Local carotid stiffness and intima-media thickness assessment by a novel ultrasound-based system in essential hypertension

► A new ultrasound-based system to evaluate local carotid stiffness (CS) and intima-medial thickness (C-IMT) is proposed. ► A population of healthy controls (NT), hypertensives (HT), hypertensives with type-2 diabetes (DM) was investigated. ► A population of healthy controls (NT), hypertensives (HT), hypertensives with type-2 diabetes (DM) was investigated. ► Patients with Framingham Risk Score ≥ 10% showed increased C-IMT and CS than those with FRS < 10%.