Carotid disease and cardiovascular risk research

Recent medical research has highlighted the significant link between carotid artery conditions and broader cardiovascular risks.

Findings presented at the World Stroke Congress 2026 in Seoul, based on data from the Ontario Stroke Registry, indicate that non-stenotic carotid disease—where stenosis is less than 50%—significantly increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) following an ischemic stroke. The study suggests that the risks for some patients with non-stenotic disease may be comparable to those with severe stenosis, challenging the view that such conditions are clinically insignificant.

In a separate prospective cohort study at University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, researchers investigated the relationship between carotid atherosclerotic plaque and functionally relevant coronary artery disease (fCAD). By analyzing 430 patients using ultrasound techniques, the study found that individuals with confirmed fCAD more frequently exhibited carotid plaques. The research explores whether carotid plaque characteristics can act as accessible markers for systemic atherosclerotic burden and future cardiovascular events.