Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between Carotid intima-media thickening (CIMT) with subclinical myocardial ischemia in acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) patients. METHODS: This prospective, observational study was conducted on 75 ACI patients referred to Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals of Ahvaz in 2023. The patients in healthy (CIMT≤0.8mm) and at risk of cardiac ischemia (CIMT>0.8mm) groups underwent carotid Doppler ultrasound to check CIMT and the presence of carotid plaque. RESULTS: CIMT mean was 1.07±0.12 mm in healthy ACI patients and 1.4±0.19 mm in those at risk of cardiac ischemia. Among patients at risk of CIMT and carotid plaque, 85.1% and 80.8% had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, respectively. However, no significant differences were found between CIMT, carotid plaque, and patients' risk factor profiles (P = 0.129 vs. P = 0.515). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for CIMT was 1.50 (95% CI: 0.58-3.94, P = 0.400), indicating no significant association with the outcome. No significant associations were observed for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, LDL, or HDL. While the prevalence of vessel disease was higher in at-risk group than healthy CIMT group, no dramatic differences were observed between CIMT and vessel involvement (P = 0.136). CONCLUSION: The presence of one or more cardiovascular risk factors combined with increased CIMT may increase heart attack susceptibility, highlighting the potential of CIMT as an effective screening tool for predicting coronary artery disease. Further large-scale studies are needed to define its role in clinical practice more definitively.