Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Echogenicity of the carotid arterial wall, measured by gray scale median of the intima-media complex (IM-GSM), is a novel subclinical atherosclerosis marker with lower values indicating greater lipid deposition. Our longitudinal study investigated IM-GSM from childhood to adulthood and its associated risk factors.
RESULTS: A total of 240 participants from the Southern California CHS (Children\'s Health Study) underwent carotid artery ultrasounds in 2008 (mean age±SD): (11.2±0.6 years), and again around 2022 (24.2±1.6 years) to assess IM-GSM, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and carotid artery distensibility. Questionnaires and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were completed by participants at both times. Mean and SD of IM-GSM were 108.2±24.6 in childhood and 75.6±15.8 in adulthood. Each 1-year increase in age was associated with -2.52 change in IM-GSM (95% CI, -2.76 to -2.27). Childhood and adulthood IM-GSMs were highly correlated (β=0.13 [95% CI, 0.05-0.22]). In childhood, Hispanic ethnicity, lower parental education levels and prenatal father smoking were significantly associated with lower IM-GSM. In adulthood, higher systolic blood pressure, carotid artery intima-media thickness, hypertension, and lower distensibility were significantly associated with lower IM-GSM. Weight status exhibited a consistent association with both childhood and adulthood IM-GSM. During the transition from childhood to adulthood, individuals who shifted from normal weight to overweight/obese or normal blood pressure to hypertension or experienced an increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness displayed lower levels of IM-GSM in adulthood.
CONCLUSIONS: IM-GSM decreases with age. Maintaining healthy weight and blood pressure levels in children could potentially aid in preventing subclinical atherosclerosis.
RESULTS: A total of 240 participants from the Southern California CHS (Children\'s Health Study) underwent carotid artery ultrasounds in 2008 (mean age±SD): (11.2±0.6 years), and again around 2022 (24.2±1.6 years) to assess IM-GSM, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and carotid artery distensibility. Questionnaires and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were completed by participants at both times. Mean and SD of IM-GSM were 108.2±24.6 in childhood and 75.6±15.8 in adulthood. Each 1-year increase in age was associated with -2.52 change in IM-GSM (95% CI, -2.76 to -2.27). Childhood and adulthood IM-GSMs were highly correlated (β=0.13 [95% CI, 0.05-0.22]). In childhood, Hispanic ethnicity, lower parental education levels and prenatal father smoking were significantly associated with lower IM-GSM. In adulthood, higher systolic blood pressure, carotid artery intima-media thickness, hypertension, and lower distensibility were significantly associated with lower IM-GSM. Weight status exhibited a consistent association with both childhood and adulthood IM-GSM. During the transition from childhood to adulthood, individuals who shifted from normal weight to overweight/obese or normal blood pressure to hypertension or experienced an increase in carotid artery intima-media thickness displayed lower levels of IM-GSM in adulthood.
CONCLUSIONS: IM-GSM decreases with age. Maintaining healthy weight and blood pressure levels in children could potentially aid in preventing subclinical atherosclerosis.
摘要：
背景：颈动脉壁的回声，通过内膜-中膜复合体(IM-GSM)的灰度中位数测量，是一种新的亚临床动脉粥样硬化标志物，具有较低的值，表明脂质沉积更大。我们的纵向研究调查了从儿童到成年的IM-GSM及其相关危险因素。
结果：2008年，来自南加州CHS（儿童健康研究）的240名参与者接受了颈动脉超声检查（平均年龄±SD）：（11.2±0.6岁），并在2022年左右（24.2±1.6年）再次评估IM-GSM，颈动脉内中膜厚度,和颈动脉扩张性.参与者在两个时间都完成了问卷调查以及人体测量和血压测量。IM-GSM的平均值和SD在儿童期为108.2±24.6，在成年期为75.6±15.8。年龄每增加1年与IM-GSM的-2.52变化相关(95%CI,-2.76至-2.27)。儿童和成年IM-GSM高度相关(β=0.13[95%CI,0.05-0.22])。在童年,西班牙裔种族，较低的父母教育水平和产前父亲吸烟与较低的IM-GSM显著相关.成年后,收缩压较高,颈动脉内中膜厚度,高血压,较低的扩张性与较低的IM-GSM显著相关。体重状态与童年和成年IM-GSM表现出一致的关联。在从童年到成年的过渡过程中，从正常体重转变为超重/肥胖,或从正常血压转变为高血压,或经历颈动脉内中膜厚度增加的个体在成年期显示较低水平的IM-GSM.
结论：IM-GSM随年龄增长而降低。保持儿童健康的体重和血压水平可能有助于预防亚临床动脉粥样硬化。
结果：2008年，来自南加州CHS（儿童健康研究）的240名参与者接受了颈动脉超声检查（平均年龄±SD）：（11.2±0.6岁），并在2022年左右（24.2±1.6年）再次评估IM-GSM，颈动脉内中膜厚度,和颈动脉扩张性.参与者在两个时间都完成了问卷调查以及人体测量和血压测量。IM-GSM的平均值和SD在儿童期为108.2±24.6，在成年期为75.6±15.8。年龄每增加1年与IM-GSM的-2.52变化相关(95%CI,-2.76至-2.27)。儿童和成年IM-GSM高度相关(β=0.13[95%CI,0.05-0.22])。在童年,西班牙裔种族，较低的父母教育水平和产前父亲吸烟与较低的IM-GSM显著相关.成年后,收缩压较高,颈动脉内中膜厚度,高血压,较低的扩张性与较低的IM-GSM显著相关。体重状态与童年和成年IM-GSM表现出一致的关联。在从童年到成年的过渡过程中，从正常体重转变为超重/肥胖,或从正常血压转变为高血压,或经历颈动脉内中膜厚度增加的个体在成年期显示较低水平的IM-GSM.
结论：IM-GSM随年龄增长而降低。保持儿童健康的体重和血压水平可能有助于预防亚临床动脉粥样硬化。
