Background: It seems that traditional risk factors are not sufficient predictors of the atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the carotid ultrasonography is a gold standard of the detection of asymptomatic atherosclerosis, the correlation between aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and the presence of preclinical carotid plaques was poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine this correlation and determine the most sensitive cut-off value of the aortic PWV for carotid atherosclerosis by using ROC (Receiving Operating Characteristic) analysis.

Methods: 557 asymptomatic subjects were included without known CVD. Arterial stiffness parameters (PWVao) were measured with non-invasive oscillometric device (Arteriograph) and carotid scan was performed with carotid ultrasonography in both side by a “blinded” investigator who was unaware of the stiffness-parameters in all subjects as well.

Results: We have found 283 carotid negative subjects and 274 carotid positive subjects. The carotid ultrasonography was positive when the IMT > 1.3mm or calcificated plaque ≥ 1mm was detected. The mean values were: age 57, BP 134/82 mmHg, HR 72/min, Aix –8,7%, PWVao 9,9 m/s. In data analysis the SPSS software and the ROC curve were used. The most sensitive PWVao was 9.62m/s. The sensitivity of increased PWVao was 77.7%, the specificity 65.4%, the positive predictive value (PPV) 68,5%, the negative predictive value (NPV) 75,2%. The significance between these values was very good.

Conclusion: The increased (>9,62 m/s) PWVao shows a strong association with the asymptomatic carotid plaques and seems to be a suitable method to detect preclinical atherosclerosis.