Prevalence and associated risk factors of carotid plaque and artery stenosis in China: a population-based study

Abstract

Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020–2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.

Keywords

carotid plaque / carotid artery stenosis / prevalence / risk factors / Bigdata Observatory Platform for stroke in China

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Acknowledgements

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the patients, hospitals, and especially the medical professionals who were pivotal in clinical data collection and follow-up. This research was funded by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Initiative for Innovative Medicine (No. 2022-I2M-1-019) and the National Social Science Fund of China (Nos. 22&ZD141 and 22AZD089). The funding bodies were not involved in any aspect of the study, from its conception and design to the collection, handling, analysis, or interpretation of data, nor in the drafting, reviewing, or approving of the manuscript.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-024-1088-0 and accessible to authorized users.

Compliance with ethics guidelines

Conflicts of interest Qingjia Zeng, Chongyang Zhang, Xinyao Liu, Shengmin Yang, Muyuan Ma, Jia Tang, Tianlu Yin, Shanshan Zhao, Wenjun Tu, and Hongpu Hu declare no competing interests.

This study was approved by the appropriate Institutional and/or National Research Ethics Committee (the Ethics Committee of Capital Medical University Xuanwu Hospital), and the study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients for being included in the study.

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