@article{QIMS154747,
author = {Xuehui Ma and Zhengqiu Zhu and Yinping Wang and Bixiao Shen and Xuezhong Jiang and Chong Zou and Hui Gao and Ping Dai and Hui Huang},
title = {Carotid stiffness quantified through shear wave elastography and pulse wave velocity by ultrafast ultrasound for assessing cardiovascular risk},
journal = {Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
year = {2026},
keywords = {},
abstract = {Background: Carotid arterial stiffness is closely linked to cardiovascular (CV) events. Traditional evaluation methods have limitations in detecting early vascular lesions and do not adequately capture regional elastic changes. Real-time shear wave elastography (RT-SWE) can quantify local carotid stiffness, while ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) provides regional stiffness assessment. However, the value of integrating these two modalities for improving CV risk assessment has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to improve CV risk assessment by integrating RT-SWE and ufPWV carotid artery parameters.Methods: We divided 88 patients into control [no major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs); n=20] and CV risk groups (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or smoking; n=68). Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) at systole beginning (PWV-BS) and end (PWV-ES), and elastic moduli (Emean, Emax, Emin, Esd) were measured via ultrasound. Between-group comparisons, correlation analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for age adjustment, univariate and multivariable logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed.Results: Carotid elasticity parameters in RT-SWE and ufPWV (PWV-BS, PWV-ES, Emax, and Esd) were age-related (r=0.245–0.338, P},
issn = {2223-4306}, url = {https://qims.amegroups.org/article/view/154747}
}