Objective  To explore risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in community elderly for providing evidences to interventions on CAS.

  Methods  A questionnaire survey, physical examination, biochemical detection, and bilateral carotid artery colour doppler ultrasonography were conducted among 3 126 permanent residents aged 60 to 80 years recruited in Luxu region of Fenhu High-Tech District, Suzhou Municipality from September 2013 to July 2014.

  Results  Among the participants, 1 183 CAS cases were identified; the CAS prevalence rate was 37.84% and positively correlated with age. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol drinking, and lack of physical activity were all significantly higher among the CAS cases than among the participants without CAS (P < 0.001 for all). Among the CAS cases, the detection rates of elevated fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbAlc), total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), uric acid, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were significantly higher and the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significanlty lower than among the participants without CAS (all P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in gender and moderate alcohol drinking between the participants with and without CAS (both P > 0.05).

  Conclusion  Prevalence of CAS increases with age and is correlated with factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high uric acid among community elderly in Suzhou city, suggesting that effective interventions on the risk factors should be carried out for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the population.