ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Raised homocysteine level is also an important independent risk factor for CVD. This study sought to determine whether there is any rela?onship between plasma homocysteine and blood pressure levels. Method: A case control study was conducted among 200 hypertensive cases and 200 normal healthy control groups. Cases were from the Department of medicine and hypertensive clinics at GMC, Barama? and similar controls were selected from pa?ents’ neighborhood. Detailed clinical assessment as well as plasma homocysteine level were assessed and compared in both. Results: Hypertensive cases had higher mean homocysteine level (21.3 ± 4.6 µmol/L) from controls (13.0 ± 6.0 µmol/L), p<0.001. Homocysteine is posi?vely correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among both hypertensive pa?ents and healthy controls. In both hypertensive subjects and healthy control, homocysteine level has weak posi?ve correla?on with DBP and moderate to strong posi?ve correla?on with SBP. The hypertensive cases had very high chance (OR=52.4) of developing hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 µmol/L), p<0.001. Conclusion: This study showed higher mean plasma homocysteine levels in hypertensive subjects than controls. Serum homocysteine concentra?ons were posi?vely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in a general adult popula?on.