Patent ID: 8556817

Claim:
A non-invasive method for evaluating artery wall status and risk of developing cardiovascular disease in an individual, comprising: (a) measuring a thickness of an artery intima layer in the individual and a thickness of an artery media layer in the individual using ultrasound employing a frequency greater than 15 MHz, (b) calculating a ratio of the measured intima thickness to the measured media thickness (measured I/M ratio), and (c) determining artery wall status and risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the individual by comparing the measured intima thickness and/or the measured I/M ratio to (i) a healthy intima thickness, comprising a mean intima thickness of a group of healthy subjects of the same sex and age of the individual, and/or a healthy I/M ratio, comprising a mean ratio of intima thickness to media thickness of a group of healthy subjects of the same sex and age of the individual, respectively, wherein if the measured intima thickness and/or the measured I/M ratio are greater than the healthy intima thickness and/or the healthy I/M ratio, respectively, the individual is evaluated as having an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and (ii) an older intima thickness, comprising a mean intima thickness of a group of healthy subjects of the same sex of the individual and of a mean age greater than the age of the individual, and/or an older I/M ratio, comprising a mean ratio of intima thickness to media thickness of a group of healthy subjects of the same sex and of a mean age greater than the age of the individual, respectively, wherein if the measured intima thickness and/or the measured I/M ratio are equivalent to or greater than the older intima thickness and/or the older I/M ratio, respectively, the individual is evaluated as having an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.