Accept No Substitute: Progression of Carotid Intima–Media Thickness and Cardiovascular Risk

Although increased carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events, it is uncertain whether a change in cIMT is associated with a change in risk. To assess such an association, investigators pooled patient-level data from 16 longitudinal studies including 36,984 participants with a mean follow-up of 7 years.

Progression of cIMT was not associated with a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular events. For every standard deviation increase in mean common cIMT, the adjusted hazard ratio was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.01). Quintiles of cIMT progression were not associated with differences in risk. No heterogeneity in HRs was detected between studies in the analysis.