High blood pressure tends to increase carotid intima-media thickness in adult females
Abstract: Atherosclerosis is
initiated by endothelial dysfunction, as a result of increasing degradation of
nitrit oxide by reactive oxygen species, thereby increasing oxydative stress.
Dyslipidemia is one of the risk factors of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the relationship of blood pressure and serum lipid
level with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in subjects aged between 55-65
years.
A cross sectional study was carried out in 52 male and female subjects
aged between 55-65 years. Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure,
lipid profile, and CIMT were assessed in all subjects. The independent t-test
was used to to analyze the relationship between all variables and CIMT. The
level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05
Mean age was 59.19 ± 3.68 years, prevalence of thickened CIMT was 66.5%,
and plaques were found in 9 subjects. There wwre no significant differences in
age, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lipid profile between
normal and thickened CIMT (p>0.05). However, there was a significant
difference in gender between the two groups (p=0.011). In females, mean
systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the thickened CIMT group
than in the normal CIMT group, but the difference was not significant
(p>0.05).
Our findings suggest that high blood pressure tends to increase CIMT in
female adults. An increasing value of CIMT should be considered as a sign of
cerebrovascular disease.
Author: Yudhisman Imran,
Pukovisa Prawiroharjo, Martiem Mawi
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160071
