Background and aims: Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is an important index
for evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis. Neck circumference (NC), a new anthropometric
index of the upper body fat, is closely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and
CVD risk factors. This study investigated the relationship between NC, C-IMT, and
carotid plaque in a community based cohort. Methods and results: Participants recruited
from Shanghai communities were followed up for 1.1-2.9 years. All participants underwent
anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Elevated NC was defined as NC > 38.5
cm and NC > 34.5 cm in men and women, respectively. Elevated CIMT, determined by ultrasound,
was defined as a level higher than the 75th percentile in the study population (>0.75
mm). In total, 1189 participants without carotid plaque at baseline were included,
with an average age of 59.6 +/- 7.3 years. After a mean follow-up of 2.1 +/- 0.2 years,
203 participants developed carotid plaques. After adjusting for various atherosclerosis
risk factors, the logistic regression showed that the higher NC group had a significantly
greater risk of developing carotid plaque than the lower NC group (odds ratio [OR],
1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.14; P = 0.008). Of those without carotid
plaque at follow-up, 495 participants developed elevated C-IMT. Compared to the lower
NC group, the higher NC group had a significantly increased risk of elevated C-IMT
(OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.14-1.95; P = 0.003). Conclusion: Higher NC was significantly
positively correlated with the risk of carotid plaque and elevated C-IMT. (c) 2022
The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis,
the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and
Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
