Sonographic assessment of the carotid intima-media thickness on B-mode ultrasonography in a Nigerian population

Background: Hypertension is a common health problem and a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease. The most important mechanism by which hypertension acts as a cardiovascular risk factor is the induction of arteriosclerosis. The early phase of atherosclerosis before its clinical manifestation can be studied using B-mode ultrasonography. Aims and Objectives: This study evaluated the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) of subjects with essential hypertension as a way of detecting these early changes of atherosclerosis. Subjects and Methods: The study was performed on 200 subjects with newly diagnosed hypertension and 100 apparently normal controls that were consecutively recruited by a cardiologist. An ultrasound examination of both CCA were done to obtain the CIMT. Data were analyzed using the SPSS data analysis software. Results: The CIMT of males were greater in the hypertensive group compared to the controls (0.10 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.077 ± 0.02 cm [ P P P P Conclusion: A statistically significant increase in CIMT was noted in both male and female hypertensives in comparison to a normal population.