Overview
- UCL-led analysis found men in the least flexible quarter of carotid arteries were about 2.5 times more likely to develop heart failure than those with the most flexible arteries, even after accounting for other risk factors.
- In a separate result, greater carotid wall thickness correlated with heart attack risk, rising roughly 29% for every 0.16 millimetre increase in thickness.
- The peer-reviewed study drew on 1,631 men aged 71–92 from the British Regional Heart Study who had scans in 2010–2012 and were followed for about six years, with results published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
- Researchers described the carotid ultrasound as a safe, inexpensive test that takes roughly 15–30 minutes, suggesting GPs could consider offering it to older patients where capacity allows rather than as routine screening.
- Because the cohort included only men, investigators called for replication in women and broader groups, while the British Heart Foundation noted arterial stiffening increases cardiac workload and should prompt preventive discussions.