Structural, Functional, and Hemodynamic Changes of the Common Carotid Artery With Age in Male Subjects

Aging of the common carotid artery (CCA) is associated with different principal structural, functional, and hemodynamic changes, which are often influenced by several atherosclerotic risk factors, so that it is difficult to estimate the exclusive effect of aging on this process. Studies dealing with vascular aging of the CCA usually assess only single, dimensional, or functional parameters, although it is likely that there are interactions and probably differences between them. Moreover, regional vascular blood flow characteristics are often not taken into consideration. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the age-related multiparametric changes of the CCA properties with ultrasound in 69 male subjects between the ages of 16 and 75 (42.4 +/- 16.5 years), who were screened for the absence of major atherosclerotic risk factors or existing vascular disease. As a result, the intima media thickness (0.052 mm/10 y) and diastolic diameter (0.17 mm/10 y) increased nearly linearly with age (r=0.60, P