Comparison between coronary plaque 64-slice spiral CT characteristics and risk factors of coronary artery disease patients in Chinese Han population and Mongolian

Protocol of the Inner Mongolian Healthy Aging Study (IMAGINS): a longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of premature mortality and burden of diseases in the world. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is located in northern China, constitute 17.66% individuals with Mongolian, which have unique diet and lifestyles. Therefore, the Inner Mongolian Healthy Aging Study (IMAGINS) was designed to explore risk factors for chronic diseases and evaluate the effectiveness of health management on CVDs in population at high-risk.

METHODS

The IMAGINS is an ongoing and prospective cohort study of men and women aged ≥35 years from Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, northern China. This study performed in investigating risk factors for CVDs, screening and providing health management strategy for high-risk population of CVDs. The IMAGINS began in September 2015 and scheduled to recruiting and follow-up outcome until 2030. For general population, a long-term follow-up will be conducted every 5 years to collect the information above and data on clinical outcomes. For high-risk population, comprehensive health managements were performed and scheduled to follow-up annually. All IMAGINS participants are followed for incident CVDs and death.

DISCUSSION

The IMAGINS is designed to increase understanding how cardiovascular-related risk factors contribute to the development of CVDs and the positive effect of health management strategy for high-risk CVD participants. Key features of this study include (i) a carefully characterized cohort between high risk of CVDs and non-high risk population; (ii) detailed measurement of CVDs risk factors and health management strategies for high risk population; (iii) long-term follow-up of CVDs and death. The IMAGINS represents a good research opportunity to investigate clinical and genetic factors in high-risk population, might providing basis for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Prevalence of and risk factors for refractive error: a cross-sectional study in Han and Mongolian adults aged 40-80 years in Inner Mongolia, China

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for refractive error (RE) in Han and Mongolian adults aged 40-80 years in Inner Mongolia in China and to identify ethnic differences in RE between these populations.

METHODS

Our cross-sectional study is part of the China National Health Survey (CNHS). The age-adjusted prevalence of RE in Han and Mongolian adults aged 40-80 in Inner Mongolia were compared. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors.

RESULTS

Among 2090 people, the age-adjusted prevalence of myopia (SE < -0.5D), hyperopia (SE > 0.5D), high myopia (SE < -6.0D) and astigmatism (cylinder ≥ 0.5D) were 29.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 27.4-31.3%), 28.4% (95% CI, 26.4-30.5%), 3.6% (95% CI, 2.8-4.4%) and 65.9% (95% CI, 63.9-67.9%), respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of myopia in the Han population was higher than that in the Mongolian population (31.8% vs. 23.0%, p < 0.001), but the prevalence of hyperopia was lower (25.8% vs. 35.3%, p = 0.002). In the multivariable logistic regression, ethnicity was associated with myopia (p = 0.001) and hyperopia (p = 0.001). Myopia was also associated with age, time spent in rural areas (p < 0.001) and middle/high school and undergraduate/graduate education levels (p = 0.027 and p < 0.001, respectively, compared with lower education levels). Additionally, age, height (p = 0.015) and pterygium (p = 0.014) were associated with hyperopia.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnicity is closely related to RE in Inner Mongolia in mainland China. Our study investigates differences in prevalence of and risk factors for RE between the Han and Mongolian populations, which could not be explained by differences in the risk factors investigated in this study.

Comparison of Predictive Ability of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Carotid Atherosclerosis Complicated with Stroke

BACKGROUND

To investigate the characterizations of CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 264 patients with carotid atherosclerosis underwent CT and MRI in Linyi Central Hospital, Linyi, China from January 2010 to January 2016. Among them, 142 patients with ischemic stroke were in experimental group (test group), another 122 patients in control group. The lumen stenosis degree, plaque fibrous cap status, calcification information and vascular plaque hemorrhage in the carotid artery fork of patients detected by CT and MRI were collected.

RESULTS

The detection rate of the plaque calcification of patients detected by MRI was lower than that detected by CT in the experimental group (P<0.05). Patients in the experimental group had higher average vascular stenosis degree detected by CT and MRI than those in the control group (P<0.01). The average vascular stenosis degree of patients detected by MRI was higher than that detected by CT in the experimental group (P<0.05). Patients in the experimental group had higher unstable fibrous cap number detected by CT and MRI than those in the control group (P<0.01). Patients in the experimental group had significantly higher number of vascular plaque small focus hemorrhage than those in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with carotid atherosclerotic complicated with stroke have higher plaque calcification number, vascular stenosis degree and unstable fibrous cap number. Both CT and MRI can better predict the risk of stroke.