OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between changes in ideal cardiovascular health score(ΔICHS) and the carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT) among the middle age and elderly population.

METHODSA total of 5 852 cases were enrolled from 101 510 Kailuan Group employees who participated in the health examination in 2006-2007 and 2010-2011 through stratified random sampling. A total of 5 440 individuals met the inclusion criteria (≥40 years old; no history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or myocardial infarction). CIMT was measured by ultrasound during 2010-2011 examination. Excluding individuals with incomplete data, 4 367 cases were included for the final analysis. According to the AHA definition of ideal cardiovascular health metric, individual ΔICHS was evaluated and the subjects were divided into 3 groups: group reduced (ΔICHS<0, n=1 355), invariant group (ΔICHS=0, n=1 451) and elevated group (ΔICHS>0, n=1 561). ΔICHS was derived from the difference between 2010-2011 and 2006-2007. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression analysis were used to analysis the relationship between ΔICHS and CIMT.

RESULTSThe ICHS was 3.03 ± 1.27 in 2006-2007 study population and 3.09 ± 1.40 (P<0.01) in 2010-2011 study population. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that ΔICHS was inversely related to CIMT. For every 1 score increase in ΔICHS, CIMT decreased by 0.009 mm(B=-0.009, P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the risk of CIMT wall thickening was lower in the ΔICHS invariant group (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.59-0.91) and in ΔICHS elevated group(OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.52-0.82) compared to the ΔICHS reduce group.

CONCLUSIONElevated ΔICHS is an independent protective factors of CIMT increase in the middle age and elderly population.