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For decades, clinicians have used the presence or absence of cardiovascular risk factors to identify those at high or minimal risk for future cardiac events. The current researchers analyzed noninvasive-imaging study data to prospectively evaluate the presence and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in 1779 middle-aged individuals without conventional cardiovascular risk factors (mean age, 45; 50% women).
Participants were nonsmokers and did not have dyslipidemia, hypertension, or diabetes; 95% had low 10-year cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, 50% were found to have subclinical levels of atherosclerosis. Overall, peripheral atherosclerotic plaques were seen in 47%: 30% in iliofemoral arteries, 23% in carotid arteries, and 17% in infr…