Department of General Practice, School of General Practice and Continuing Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
PLoS One. 2014 Apr 15;9(4):e94935. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094935. eCollection 2014.
This study aimed to explore the possible association of plasma total homocysteine with carotid plaque stability.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2010 to 2011. A stratified random sample of 2,919 Chinese participants aged 40 years or older was enrolled. Plasma total homocysteine levels were measured and carotid plaques were evaluated by ultrasonography. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of homocysteine levels to the progression of carotid plaque development, while adjusting for demographics and vascular risk factors.
The mean level of plasma homocysteine in the subjects was 14.9 µmol/l. Along with increase in homocysteine level, the risk of advanced carotid plaque elevated (odds ratio = 1.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.09-1.51) after adjusting for age, sex, and other potential confounders. Stratified by sex, higher homocysteine level was strongly associated with advanced carotid plaque in men (OR = 1.41; 95% confidence interval = 1.17-1.70), but not in women.
The findings suggest that plasma level of homocysteine may be associated with advanced carotid plaque, which constitutes high risks of stroke, in male Chinese adults.
本研究旨在探讨血浆总同型半胱氨酸与颈动脉斑块稳定性之间可能存在的关联。
本研究为 2010 年至 2011 年进行的一项横断面研究。采用分层随机抽样方法，选取了 2919 名年龄在 40 岁及以上的中国参与者。通过超声检查评估颈动脉斑块，同时测量血浆总同型半胱氨酸水平。采用 logistic 回归模型分析同型半胱氨酸水平与颈动脉斑块进展的相关性，同时调整了人口统计学和血管危险因素。
研究对象的血浆同型半胱氨酸平均水平为 14.9µmol/L。在校正年龄、性别和其他潜在混杂因素后，同型半胱氨酸水平升高与颈动脉斑块进展的风险增加相关（比值比 = 1.28；95%置信区间 = 1.09-1.51）。按性别分层后，较高的同型半胱氨酸水平与男性颈动脉斑块进展高度相关（OR = 1.41；95%置信区间 = 1.17-1.70），但在女性中无此相关性。
研究结果表明，血浆同型半胱氨酸水平可能与中国成年男性颈动脉斑块进展相关，进而增加中风风险。
