Data from: Detection of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects using ultrasound radiofrequency-tracking technology

Objective: Atherosclerosis is a chronic and systemic disease and its
developmental process involves the synergism of multiple risk factors such
as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity and smoking. The
diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis is essential for strategic
guidance towards suitable treatments and efficient prevention against
acute cardiovascular events. This study employed ultrasound radiofrequency
(RF) tracking technology to characterize human carotid arteries in vivo in
terms of intima-media thickness (IMT) and artery stiffness, and evaluated
the statistical correlation between carotid IMT and stiffness, and the
number of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Methods: A total of 160
asymptomatic subjects were enrolled. Ultrasound RF-tracking technology was
employed to acquire carotid IMT and stiffness parameters: maximum IMT
(MAXIMT), RF Quality IMT (RFQIMT), distensibility coefficient (),
compliance coefficient (), index, index and local pulse wave velocity ().
The subjects were categorized in four groups in terms of the number of
risk factors: ‘zero’, ‘single’, ‘double’, and ‘multiple’, and statistical
analyses of carotid IMT and stiffness parameters were performed between
these different groups. Results: The subjects (n = 145) with MAXIMT
smaller than 1.0 mm matched the IMT criteria for non-atherosclerosis and
were named as NA-subjects. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis of the
whole group and the NA-subjects both showed that MAXIMT correlated
positively with RFQIMT, , , and , and negatively with and (p<0.01).
The analysis of covariance of NA-subjects showed significant differences
between subjects with and without risk factors, and also showed
significant differences between the ‘zero’, ‘single’, ‘double’, and
‘multiple’ groups. Conclusions: The carotid IMT and stiffness parameters
obtained by the ultrasound RF-tracking technology were demonstrated to
possess significant statistical correlation with the number of risk
factors from 160 subjects, and these anatomical and mechanical parameters
may potentially be used together with the IMT criteria to support
subclinical atherosclerosis diagnosis.