ObjectiveTo observe the frequency and severity of carotid atherosclerotic stenosis in senior chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and explore the related risk factors in order to provide a theoretical basis for the effective prevention of cardiovascular comorbidity in COPD. MethodsStable COPD out-patients followed up in Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital were prospectively enrolled between August 2012 and August 2015, who had carotid atherosclerosis confirmed by cervical vascular color ultrasonic inspection within 3 months. All the patients were divided into a carotid stenosis group and a non-carotid stenosis group. Demographic and laboratory data were extracted and compared between two groups. Pearson correlation and Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the risk factors related to carotid stenosis. ResultsOf 380 consecutive senior patients with COPD and carotid atherosclerosis, 199 (52.37%) had carotid stenosis. Compared with those without carotid stenosis, the patients in the carotid stenosis group had significantly higher levels of hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), uric acid (UA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and smoking index (P < 0.05). Lower levels of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and body mass index (BMI) were also observed in the carotid stenosis group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation and logistic regression analysis showed that hs-CRP (OR 1.040, 95%CI 1.011-3.070), UA (OR 1.003, 95%CI 1.000-2.006), FEV1 (OR 0.899, 95%CI 0.200-5.722), smoking index (OR 1.002, 95%CI 1.001-2.904) and BMI (OR 0.955, 95%CI 0.312-4.866) were associated with carotid stenosis. ConclusionsCarotid atherosclerotic stenosis is common in senior COPD patients. Higher levels of hs-CRP, UA and smoking index and lower levels of FEV1 and BMI may be independent risk factors for carotid stenosis in COPD.