@article{1642b6659b7e47c394424699d194f233,
title = "Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Testing by Non-Sonographer Clinicians: The Office Practice Assessment of Carotid Atherosclerosis Study",
abstract = "Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a non-sonographer clinician (NSC) could obtain ultrasound images of the carotid artery, measure carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and identify findings indicating increased cardiovascular risk in an office setting. Methods: Eight NSCs from five sites were trained to use a handheld ultrasound device to screen the carotid arteries for plaques and to measure CIMT. Results: NSCs scanned 150 subjects who provided 900 images, of which 873 (97%) were interpretable. Differences between NSCs and the core laboratory were small (0.002 ± 0.004 mm) and bioequivalent (PTOST < 0.05) with a low coefficient of variation (3.9% ± 0.5%). There was ≥ 90% agreement on the presence of CIMT ≥ 75th percentile and ≥ 80% agreement on plaque presence. Conclusions: This is the first multicenter study to show that NSCs can obtain images of the carotid arteries using a handheld ultrasound device, accurately measure CIMT, and identify findings indicating increased cardiovascular risk.",
author = "Korcarz, {Claudia E.} and Hirsch, {Alan T.} and Charles Bruce and DeCara, {Jeanne M.} and Mohler, {Emile R.} and Bryan Pogue and John Postley and Tzou, {Wendy S.} and Stein, {James H.}",
note = "Funding Information: This is the first multicenter study to show that NSCs can obtain images of the carotid arteries by using an HHU, use the images to accurately measure CIMT, and identify findings indicating increased CV risk in an office setting. These data demonstrate that CIMT can be used in an office setting as a practical tool to assist with CV risk assessment. The core laboratory and coordinating center for this study was the University of Wisconsin Atherosclerosis Imaging Research Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI (James H. Stein, MD (Principal Investigator, PI); Claudia E. Korcarz, DVM, RDCS). The following individuals and institutions participated in this study: Heart Prevention Clinic of Idaho, Boise, ID (Bryan Pogue, MD (site PI), Kelli Sizemore, Amy Webb), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (Charles Bruce (site PI), Sue Milbrandt, Anne Odland), New York Physicians, New York, NY (John Postley, MD (site PI), Maria Chan), University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL (Jeanne M. DeCara, MD (site PI), Kathy Furlong), University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis, MN (Alan T. Hirsch, MD (site PI), Andrey Zenovich, Troy Decker), University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA (Emile R. Mohler, MD (site PI), Wendy S. Tzou, MD). The steering committee included Dr. Stein (study PI), Dr. Hirsch (study Co-PI), Dr. DeCara, Patrick E. McBride, MD, MPH (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI), Christopher M. Rembold, MD (University of Virginia Medical School, Charlottesville, VA), Neil Stone, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL), and Dr. Tzou. ",
year = "2008",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1016/j.echo.2007.08.038",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "21",
pages = "117--122",
journal = "Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography",
issn = "0894-7317",
publisher = "Mosby Inc.",
number = "2",
}