ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery in color ultrasonography and the heart rate variability. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed in 64 patients from West China Hospital of Sichuan University between March and May 2013. Carotid intima-media thickness was measured with color ultrasonography and dynamic electrocardiogram, and the heart rate variability was assayed at the same time. ResultsIMT in the cardiovascular disease group, combination group, coronary heart disease group and hypertension group was significantly thicker than the control group (P<0.05). The differences of SDNN and SDANN were statistically significant (P<0.05) between the combination group and the control group. There were 23 cases with IMT ≥ 1.0 mm in the cardiovascular disease group including 8 cases in the combination group, 10 cases in the coronary heart disease group and 5 cases in the hypertension group. IMT in those groups were all significantly higher than that in the control group with only 2 cases having IMT ≥ 1.0 mm (P<0.05). There were 18 cases with SDNN<100 ms in the cardiovascular disease group including 7 cases in the combination group, 6 cases in the coronary heart disease group and 5 cases in the hypertension group, but there was no statistically significant difference compared with that in the control group with only 11 cases (P>0.05). Negative correlation was found between IMT and SDNN, SDANN in the cardiovascular diseases group (r=-0.574, -0.544; P<0.01) and negative correlation was found between IMT and SDANN in the control group (r=-0.392, P<0.05). ConclusionThe carotid artery lesions and autonomic nerve especially sympathetic nerve dysfunction are obvious in patients with cardiovascular diseases and there is a negative correlation between them.