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Meta-Analysis
. 2010 Jun;41(6):1294-7.
doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.581058. Epub 2010 Apr 29.

Prevalence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general population: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Marjolein de Weerd  1 , Jacoba P Greving, Bo Hedblad, Matthias W Lorenz, Ellisiv B Mathiesen, Daniel H O'Leary, Maria Rosvall, Matthias Sitzer, Erik Buskens, Michiel L Bots
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis in the general population: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Marjolein de Weerd et al. Stroke. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Background and purpose: In the discussion on the cost-effectiveness of screening, precise estimates of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis are vital. Accordingly, we assessed the prevalence of moderate and severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis by age and sex using pooled cohort data.

Methods: We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis (23 706 participants) of 4 population-based studies (Malmö Diet and Cancer Study, Tromsø, Carotid Atherosclerosis Progression Study, and Cardiovascular Health Study). Outcomes of interest were asymptomatic moderate (> or =50%) and severe carotid stenosis (> or =70%).

Results: Prevalence of moderate asymptomatic carotid stenosis ranged from 0.2% (95% CI, 0.0% to 0.4%) in men aged <50 years to 7.5% (5.2% to 10.5%) in men aged > or =80 years. For women, this prevalence increased from 0% (0% to 0.2%) to 5.0% (3.1% to 7.5%). Prevalence of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis ranged from 0.1% (0.0% to 0.3%) in men aged <50 years to 3.1% (1.7% to 5.3%) in men aged > or =80. For women, this prevalence increased from 0% (0.0% to 0.2%) to 0.9% (0.3% to 2.4%).

Conclusions: The prevalence of severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis in the general population ranges from 0% to 3.1%, which is useful information in the discussion on the cost-effectiveness of screening.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age- and sex-specific prevalence estimates of moderate (A) and severe ACAS (B) in men and women
Figure 2
Figure 2
Prevalence of severe stenosis in subgroups
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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