Gender-specific patterns of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a case-control study
V. V. Genkel,
Ya. I. Zaripova,
A. S. Sluchanko,
E. V. Lebedev,
L. R. Pykhova,
V. A. Sumerkina,
K. V. Nikushkina,
A. S. Kuznetsova,
A. A. Saenko,
S. A. Merkulova,
A. I. Dolgushina https://doi.org/10.15829/1728-8800-2026-4457
EDN: TKYZRX
Abstract
Aim. To study the influence of sex on the ultrasound plaque morphology and the burden of atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and carotid atherosclerosis.
Material and methods. This case-control study included 59 patients (28 women and 31 men) aged 40-64 years with IBD and carotid atherosclerosis. The control group (n=149, 56 women and 93 men) was recruited from a database of patients with carotid plaques. All patients underwent carotid duplex ultrasound to determine plaque echogenicity and measure the maximum height, total height, and total area of plaques.
Results. The carotid plaque echogenicity was significantly lower in women with IBD compared to the control group (p=0,011). The maximum and total heights of carotid plaques, as well as the total area of carotid plaques, were higher in women with IBD compared to the control group (p=0,001; p=0,003; p=0,026, respectively). IBD in women was associated with a 4,14-fold increase in the odds ratio of hypoechoic carotid plaques (95% confidence interval: 1,11-15,5; p=0,035) after adjusting for age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose levels, and lipid-lowering therapy.
Conclusion. Women with IBD had lower echogenicity of carotid plaques and higher carotid atherosclerosis burden scores compared with age-matched controls. IBD is associated with an increased probability of hypoechoic carotid plaques among women.
About the Authors
V. V. Genkel
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine Propaedeutics, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
Ya. I. Zaripova
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Assistant of the Department of Internal Medicine Propaedeutics, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
A. S. Sluchanko
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Assistant of the Department of Hospital Therapy, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
E. V. Lebedev
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine Propaedeutics, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
L. R. Pykhova
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Associate Professor of the Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
V. A. Sumerkina
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Head of the Central Research Laboratory, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
K. V. Nikushkina
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Cand. Sci. (Med.), Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Doctor of the Research Institute of Immunology, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
A. S. Kuznetsova
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
A. A. Saenko
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
S. A. Merkulova
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Head of the Gastroenterology Department, City Clinical Hospital №1 of Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk
A. I. Dolgushina
South Ural State Medical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
MD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Head of the Department of Hospital Therapy, South Ural State Medical University
Chelyabinsk
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What is already known about the subject?
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, despite a lower prevalence of traditional risk factors.
- Data on the influence of sex on the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with IBD are inconsistent.
What might this study add?
- Women with IBD and carotid atherosclerosis are characterized by lower echogenicity of carotid plaques and higher atherosclerotic burden compared with age-matched controls.
- A diagnosis of IBD was associated with an increased odds ratio for hypoechoic carotid plaques in a model adjusted for age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and lipid-lowering therapy among women only.
Review
For citations:
Genkel V.V., Zaripova Ya.I., Sluchanko A.S., Lebedev E.V., Pykhova L.R., Sumerkina V.A., Nikushkina K.V., Kuznetsova A.S., Saenko A.A., Merkulova S.A., Dolgushina A.I. Gender-specific patterns of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a case-control study. Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention. 2026;25(1):4457. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15829/1728-8800-2026-4457. EDN: TKYZRX
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