Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic and evolutionary disease that affects all the arteries of the body. There are many risk factors (RF) related, but a third of cardiovascular events (CVE) are not attributable to traditional RF. There is evidence that the measurement of intima-media diameter allows evaluation at early stages of the disease and carotid artery is a suitable location for it (CIMD). The aim of this study is to determine whether the available evidence supports the CIMD as a factor associated with the development of CVE or death in asymptomatic adults in the general population. Systematic review. We analyzed studies primary studies published from 2006 to date, without restriction of language or design, to include adult population with no history of CVE and in those that CIMD was measurement by ultrasound. MEDLINE, SciELO and LILACS databases were consulted. MeSH terms and free words were used. Selected studies were analyzed using MINCIR methodological quality (MQ) scores of therapy and prognosis. The following variables were considered: age, gender, race, history of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity and MQ of primary studies. Results: 9 primary studies were analyzed, including 24,016 patients, 54.3% of whom are female. The RF more frequently reported and associated with CVE were smoking (54%) followed by hypertension and diabetes. Ultrasonographic measurements allowed us to verify a wide variety of techniques used, indicating a large heterogeneity and therefore not possible to compare the results. The available evidence to determine the association between CIMD and CVE is insufficient. Studies with better level evidence and MQ are needed to clarify the uncertain.