Prevalence of atherosclerosis and association with 5-year outcome: The Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study

Objectives: We studied the prevalence of atherosclerosis among ischaemic stroke patients ≤60 years and controls at the time of the index stroke, and its association with occurrence of new cardiovascular events (CVEs) and mortality at a 5-year follow-up. Methods: Prevalent atherosclerosis was assessed for 385 patients and 260 controls in seven vascular areas by electrocardiogram (ECG), ankle–arm index (AAI) and measurement of right and left carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (cIMT and fIMT) and abdominal aorta plaques (AAP). Clinical end-points were any new CVE (stroke, angina, myocardial infarction or peripheral arterial disease) or death from any cause at 5-year follow-up. All resu…