%0 Journal Article
%T Carotid Artery Wall Echogenicity Measured by Gray Scale Median of the Intima-Media Complex From Childhood to Young Adulthood.
%A Guo F
%A Chen X
%A Niu Z
%A Karim R
%A Gauderman WJ
%A McConnell R
%A Yan M
%A Whitfield L
%A Li Y
%A Bastain TM
%A Breton CV
%A Hodis HN
%A Farzan SF
%J J Am Heart Assoc
%V 13
%N 15
%D 2024 Aug 6
%M 39101497
%F 6.106
%R 10.1161/JAHA.124.034821
%X 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.