Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Associated Risk Factors among Congolese Hypertensive Patients in Kinshasa. A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Objective. To assess the prevalence of increase carotid Intima-media thickness and associated risk factors in hypertensive patients. Methods. 60 consecutive hypertensive patients ( 45 years) seen at the outpatient hypertension Clinic were included in the present study. They underwent the following procedures (i) medical history; physical examination and clinic blood pressure measurement; (ii) routine blood chemistry; (iii) carotid B mode ultrasound. Increased carotid IMT was defined as values 0.9 mm and 1.3 mm or values 75th percentile. 2007 ESH/ESC guidelines were used to assess cardiovascular risk. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors associated with increased cIMT. P value 0.05 defined the level of statistical significance. Results. Increased IMT was present in 12and 32of patients using values 0.9 mm and 0.8 (75th percentile); respectively. Age 60 years (OR 7.5; 95CI 1.9-30; p = 0.003); diabetes 5 years (OR 2.0; 95CI 1.1-3.7; p = 0.016); hypertension 7 years (OR 3.6; 95CI 1.1-13; p = 0.029) and uric acid 7 mg/dl (OR 4.6; 95CI 1.4-15; p = 0.012) emerged as the main predictors of the risk of having increased cIMT. Conclusion. Increased IMT was common among the present case series; diabetes; hypertension and hyperuricemia; all components of the MetS; emerged as the main modifiable risk factors associated with increased cIMT. Therapeutic lifestyle changes should be encouraged in addition to antihypertensive therapy in these patients