The prevalence of carotid artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective: To determine the prevalence, distribution and severity of carotid artery stenosis (CS) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Ninety-seven patients with CAD accepted coronary angiography and carotid artery angiography simultaneously. According to the involved vessels (≥50% stenosis), patients were classified into three groups: group 1 with 1-vessel involved; group 2 with 2-vessel involved; group 3 with 3-vessel or left main stem (LMS) involved. Taking CS ≥70% as a cutoff point, we assessed the prevalence and distribution of CS in different groups. Age, BWI, hypertension and biochemical and lipid risk factors related to CAD were recruited to indentify independent risk factors associated with significant CS using logistic regression. Results: Twenty-five (25.8%) had 1-vessel involved, 34 (35.0%) 2-vessel involved, 38 (39.2%) 3-vessel or left main stem (LMS) involved. CS (lumen diameter stenosis ≥70%) was present in 4% (1/25), 38.2% (13/34), 47.4% (18/38) in three groups, respectively. Only age and hypertension were found to be independently significant (P<0.05) for predicting ≥70% CS by logistic regression. Conclusion: Carotid artery angiography should be performed simultaneously when coronary angiography shows 1-vessel involved with one or more risk factors and 2-or 3-vessel involved. (authors)