Abstract: AIM:To analyze the correlation between carotid artery plaques and arteriosclerosis and to explore the distribution characteristics of carotid artery plaques. METHODS: Middle-aged and elderly inpatients and outpatients in our hospital from April 2012 to March 2013 were used as the study sample. Carotid ultrasonography and arteriosclerosis detection were performed in 756 middle-aged and elderly patients and the relationship between carotid artery plaques and arteriosclerosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Arteriosclerosis was associated with carotid artery plaques (P<0.01) and the occurrence rates of carotid artery plaques in males and females were, respectively, 30.9% and 21.8%, with the former significantly higher than that of the latter (P<0.01). The incidence rate of carotid artery plaques in both males and females increased with increasing age (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Arteriosclerosis is associated with carotid artery plaques and the distribution difference is gender and age related.