Carotid intima-media thickness in low-risk individuals with asymptomatic atherosclerosis: baseline data from the METEOR study

Objective: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an index for changes in atherosclerosis burden and changes in CIMT may relate to clinical events. We present baseline data from the METEOR study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of rosuvastatin 40 mg on changes in CIMT. We set out to compare differences in CIMT between several subgroups of individuals. Design and methods: A total of 984 individuals aged 45-70 years (men) or 55-70 (women) were randomized. Participants were required to have: maximum CIMT >= 1.2- < 3.5 mm; 2+ risk factors and 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk < 10%, or < 2 CHD risk factors. Demographic characteristics were compared in two groups: USA versus Europe, and individuals with maximum CIMT < 2 mm versus those with CIMT >= 2 mm. Baseline data: Overall, mean age was 57 years and mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 152 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). Body mass index (BMI), triglyceride and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were all higher in US individuals, whereas smoking, hypertension and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher in Europeans. Mean CIMT levels were the same in both populations, and the percentage of individuals with >= 2 CHD risk factors was similar. Increased baseline CIMT (> 2 mm) was related to increasing age, male gender, smoking, hypertension and lipid levels. Conclusions: In this global trial, differences in baseline characteristics between participants from the USA and Europe are apparent. However, a strong association between CIMT and several cardiovascular risk factors was observed across the two continents.