Carotid intima-media thickness for cardiovascular risk assessment: systematic review and meta-analysis

Researchers combined 14 long-term studies involving 45,828 adults. They measured carotid intima-media thickness, the thickness of the inner layers of the neck arteries, using ultrasound. They compared this measurement with usual risk factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, and cholesterol. During follow-up, 4,007 people had a heart or blood vessel problem. Adding the artery measurement improved risk prediction only slightly.

What this means for you: A routine artery scan is unlikely to add much beyond standard checks for most people. This study does not support buying one unless a clinician has a specific reason.