Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness: The USE-IMT study

Xin Wang, Gerdien Dalmeijer, Hester M. Den Ruijter, Todd J. Anderson, Annie R. Britton, Jacqueline Dekker, Gunnar Engström, Greg W. Evans, Jacqueline De Graaf, Diederick E. Grobbee, Bo Hedblad, Suzanne Holewijn, Ai Ikeda, Jussi Kauhanen, Kazuo Kitagawa, Akihiko Kitamura, Sudhir Kurl, Eva M. Lonn, Matthias W. Lorenz, Ellisiv B. MathiesenGiel Nijpels, Shuhei Okazaki, Joseph F. Polak, Jacqueline F. Price, Christopher M. Rembold, Maria Rosvall, Tatjana Rundek, Jukka T. Salonen, Matthias Sitzer, Coen D A Stehouwer, Tomi Pekka Tuomainen, Sanne A E Peters, Michiel L. Bots

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: The relation of a single risk factor with atherosclerosis is established. Clinically we know of risk factor clustering within individuals. Yet, studies into the magnitude of the relation of risk factor clusters with atherosclerosis are limited. Here, we assessed that relation. Methods: Individual participant data from 14 cohorts, involving 59,025 individuals were used in this cross-sectional analysis. We made 15 clusters of four risk factors (current smoking, overweight, elevated blood pressure, elevated total cholesterol). Multilevel age and sex adjusted linear regression models were applied to estimate mean differences in common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) between clusters using those without any of the four risk factors as reference group. Results: Compared to the reference, those with 1, 2, 3 or 4 risk factors had a significantly higher common CIMT: mean difference of 0.026 mm, 0.052 mm, 0.074 mm and 0.114 mm, respectively. These findings were the same in men and in women, and across ethnic groups. Within each risk factor cluster (1, 2, 3 risk factors), groups with elevated blood pressure had the largest CIMT and those with elevated cholesterol the lowest CIMT, a pattern similar for men and women. Conclusion: Clusters of risk factors relate to increased common CIMT in a graded manner, similar in men, women and across race-ethnic groups. Some clusters seemed more atherogenic than others. Our findings support the notion that cardiovascular prevention should focus on sets of risk factors rather than individual levels alone, but may prioritize within clusters.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0173393
JournalPLoS ONE [E]
Volume12
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017

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