OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of ideal health behaviors and health factors on the detection rate of the carotid plaques.

METHODSSubjects with previous stroke, TIA, myocardial infarction were excluded from the study. A total of 5852 employees (active and retired employers from Tangshan Kailuan company) aged 40 years and over were included through stratified random sampling. Information was obtained from the unified questionnaire, measurements of blood biochemistry and carotid artery ultrasonography.

RESULTS(1) The carotid artery plaque detection rates were 67.0%, 52.3%, 50.5%, 44.3%, 37.2%, 31.9%, 26.1% and 4.2% in the groups with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 components of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and health factors, respectively. (2) The carotid artery plaques total burden score [TBS: M (Q1, Q3)] were 7(7,7), 7(5,7), 7(5,7), 5(3,5), 5(3,5), 5(3,5), 3(3,3), 3(3,3) in the groups with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 components of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and health factors, respectively. (3) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that 3, 4, 5 and greater than 5 components of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and health factors were protective factors against carotid plaques compared to less than 2 components of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors (all P < 0.05), the OR (95%CI) values were 0.78 (0.62 - 0.98), 0.53(0.62 - 0.98), 0.52 (0.39 - 0.71) and 0.40 (0.25 - 0.64), respectively.

CONCLUSIONIncreasing ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors are negatively linked with the detection rate and TBS of the carotid plaques.