ObjectiveTo explore the short-term and long-term efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with carotid artery stenosis, and analyze the risk factors for occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after operation.MethodsThe clinical data of 326 patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent CEA in the Second Department of General Surgery, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University from January 2012 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen the risk factors for occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after CEA, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum homocysteine (Hcy) and modified Rankin scale (mRS) score.ResultsAll patients underwent successful surgery. Follow-up results showed that the incidence rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after surgery was 6.7% (22/326), and the incidence rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within one year after surgery was 11.8% (38/323). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking history (OR=2.373), contralateral carotid artery stenosis (OR=4.669), preoperative mRS score≥3 (OR=2.550), and preoperative serum Hcy≥20 μmmol/L (OR=1.335) were independent risk factors for occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after CEA (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Hcy level was 0.834 in predicting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after CEA [95%CI was (0.769, 0.899), P=0.003]. The area under the ROC curve of mRS score for predicting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events within 30 days after CEA was 0.697 [95%CI was (0.552, 0.842), P=0.009].ConclusionsCEA is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. The smoking history, contralateral carotid artery stenosis, preoperative severe neurological deficit, and elevated serum Hcy are independent risk factors for occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after CEA.