Background

To date, the correlation between ethnicity and risk factors for the development of stenosis of the carotid arteries has not been evaluated in Kazakhstan.

Objectives

The study investigated the link between ethnicity and risk factors for the development of carotid artery stenosis (≥ 50%).

Material and methods

The study is based on a retrospective analysis of the data of 356 patients hospitalized with suspected pathology of the carotid arteries. The patients were subdivided into groups according to their ethnic origin, age, and the degree of the narrowing of the internal carotid artery. The demographic data, main risk factors, and the effectiveness of treatment were analyzed.

Results

Among all the patients, Central Asians accounted for 56.5%, Slavs for 35.9%, and other nationalities for 7.6%. A high level of obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and low physical activity was prevalent in the group of the Central Asians. However, alcohol consumption was higher in the Slavs. Preventive use of aspirin prevailed in the Slavic patients (64.1%). Male gender, hypercholesterolemia, and low physical activity were risk factors for the development of significant stenosis of the carotid arteries (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The results showed that ethnicity, male gender, overweight, physical inactivity, smoking, and hypercholesterolemia were dominant risk factors for the development of significant carotid stenosis. Our findings indicate the need for the development of preventive measures to combat such risk factors in the amenable ethnic groups.