Understanding Your CIMT Test Results: What the Numbers Mean
Dr. Goulder specializes in advanced lipid management, metabolic health, and arterial disease reversal.
Reviewed by
Dr. Wright is known for his deep knowledge of the BaleDoneen Method and his ability to translate complex clinical findings into clear, actionable guidance.
Understanding Your CIMT Test Results: What the Numbers Mean
Your CIMT results are in. Now what? Let me walk you through what those numbers actually mean—and what to do next.
I've had thousands of patients sit across from me staring at their CIMT report with a mix of confusion and quiet dread. The numbers can feel overwhelming. They don't have to. Let me break it down in a way that actually makes sense.
If you're not sure what a CIMT scan is or why it matters, start there first—then come back here for the numbers.
image: Doctor reviewing ultrasound image with patient; warm, clinical setting; alt="Physician reviewing CIMT carotid ultrasound results with patient"
What Does the Measurement Mean?
CIMT measures the thickness of the inner two layers of your carotid artery wall, in millimeters. Think of it as a snapshot of how much silent damage may have built up over decades of cardiovascular risk exposure.
Here's the quick-reference breakdown:[^1]
chart: Visual risk gauge/spectrum chart showing CIMT thickness ranges (<0.6mm, 0.6–0.7mm, 0.7–0.95mm, >1.0mm) color-coded from green to red with corresponding risk labels; alt="CIMT thickness risk spectrum chart"
| Thickness | Risk Level | |-----------|------------| | < 0.6 mm | Low risk — healthy artery walls | | 0.6–0.7 mm | Normal — typical for most healthy adults | | 0.7–0.95 mm | Moderate to high risk — increased chance of heart disease | | > 1.0 mm | High risk — significant concern for heart disease or stroke |
[^1]: Stein JH, et al. "Use of carotid ultrasound to identify subclinical vascular disease and evaluate cardiovascular disease risk: a consensus statement from the American Society of Echocardiography Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Task Force." J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2008;21(2):93–111. PMID: 18261694.
The number I watch most closely: anything above 0.7 mm. That's where we start to see meaningful arterial change. Above 1.0 mm is where I get more concerned—real structural damage is occurring.
But here's the critical point: the raw number alone doesn't tell the full story.
What Does the Letter Grade System Mean?
Many CIMT reports include a letter grade (A through E) that compares your results to a reference database of over 40,000 people matched by age and sex:[^1]
- Grade A: Excellent — your arteries look great for your demographic
- Grade B: Low risk — slightly above average, minimal increase in risk
- Grade C: Moderate risk — roughly 1.5× higher than average risk
- Grade D: High risk — 1.5 to 2× normal risk
- Grade E: Very high risk — up to 2.7× higher risk
Grade A or B is where you want to land. But here's what I tell every patient who comes in with a C, D, or E: that's not a verdict. It's a signal. And with the right interventions, we've seen patients move their grades in the right direction.
Beyond the Numbers: What Else Matters?
Several factors shape how I interpret your results:
Age: Artery walls naturally thicken with age. A reading of 0.7 mm means something very different in a 45-year-old versus a 70-year-old—which is exactly why the percentile grade matters more than the raw number alone.
Sex: Men tend to run slightly higher CIMT values than women at the same age.
Family history: If your father had a heart attack before 55, or your mother before 65, your baseline risk is elevated regardless of where your numbers fall.
Other risk factors: High blood pressure, elevated LDL, low HDL, insulin resistance, diabetes, smoking—these all compound what the CIMT number is showing you.
A Patient Story
Marcus came to see me at 52. His CIMT was 0.78 mm—technically "moderate risk" in isolation. But the full picture told a different story: his father died of a heart attack at 48, his fasting glucose was creeping into pre-diabetic range, and he smoked half a pack a day. That 0.78 mm told me we needed to move—and move fast. We did. A year later, Marcus's CIMT had stabilized and his metabolic numbers were trending in the right direction.
The number is a starting point. The context is the strategy.
What Is the Accretion Rate and How Fast Is Your Artery Wall Changing?
One of the most underappreciated data points in CIMT is the rate of change over time—what we call the accretion rate. A normal artery wall thickens at roughly 0.01 mm per year in otherwise healthy adults.[^2] When we see progression exceeding that threshold, it tells us cardiovascular risk is actively accelerating rather than holding steady.
[^2]: Lorenz MW, Markus HS, Bots ML, Rosvall M, Sitzer M. "Prediction of clinical cardiovascular events with carotid intima-media thickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis." Circulation. 2007;115(4):459–467. PMID: 17242284.
chart: Line graph showing example CIMT accretion over time — one line stable/controlled, one line accelerating — with threshold annotation; alt="CIMT progression rate over time showing controlled vs accelerated atherosclerosis"
Some patients I've followed for years show completely stable numbers with good lifestyle management. Others—especially those with untreated hypertension, dyslipidemia, or metabolic syndrome—see steady year-over-year climb. Tracking the trajectory tells us whether our interventions are actually working, or whether we need to escalate.
Each 0.10 mm increase in CIMT is associated with a 15–18% higher relative risk of stroke and 10–15% higher risk of myocardial infarction.[^2] This is why slowing—or reversing—progression matters enormously.
What Should You Do With Your Results?
Here's how I approach each risk tier:
Grade A or B, thickness < 0.7 mm Keep doing what you're doing. Annual monitoring to catch any trend before it becomes a problem.
Grade C, thickness 0.7–0.95 mm This is where most patients land when they walk through our door. We dig into lifestyle—diet quality, exercise frequency, chronic stress, sleep—and often pair that with targeted nutraceuticals. Medication enters the conversation when other risk factors pile up.
Grade D or E, thickness > 1.0 mm More aggressive management, full stop. We're talking pharmacologic intervention, significant lifestyle restructuring, and tighter follow-up intervals. This is arterial disease that isn't going to wait.
What's the Bottom Line on Your CIMT Results?
Your CIMT result gives you something most people never have: information before the event. A thickness over 1.0 mm doesn't mean a heart attack is around the corner. It means your arteries are signaling that damage has accumulated—and that now is the time to act, not later.
The encouraging news: we consistently see patients improve their CIMT trajectory with the right plan. Artery walls can stabilize. Plaque progression can slow. In some cases, it reverses. None of that is guaranteed—but none of it is out of reach either.
The first step is knowing where you stand. CIMT tells you.
Ready to understand what your results mean for you? View our CIMT scan options and pricing →
Or learn more about how a CIMT scan works and what to expect →
Related reading:
Ready to see your actual risk?
Advanced metabolic testing, arterial imaging, and a personalized prevention plan — built around your numbers.
View Memberships