Sonographic findings of carotid artery disease in adults with hypertension as a risk of stroke. A cross-section study in a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania East Africa

Abstract

Background: Systemic arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, leading to conditions like carotid artery stenosis  and ischemic stroke. Extracranial ultrasonography is recommended for the initial assessment of patients with hypertension to detect  carotid artery disease. This study aimed to assess sonographic findings of carotid artery disease in adults with hypertension at a  Cardiovascular Hospital in Tanzania, East Africa.

Methods and materials: A 7-month cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at JKCI on adult patients with hypertension who  gave consent. Demographic and clinical histories were recorded, and SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Sonographic findings of  carotid artery disease and associated factors were presented using descriptive analysis. Proportions between independent variables were  compared using Pearson Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Statistical significance was considered at a P value of less than 0.05.  

Results: 104 patients were included in the study, and their average age was 62. Most patients (38.46%) were aged between 51-60 and  above; females accounted for 74.04% of the participants. The primary risk factors observed were overweight (50.96%) and diabetes  (26.92%). Carotid Doppler ultrasound showed that 53.85% of the patients had intima-media thickness, and 30.77% had plaque. These  changes were significantly associated with age (p value= <0.05), hypertension, and dyslipidemia (p value= <0.05).

Conclusion: At the age  of 50 or older, high dyslipidemia is associated with intima-media plaque/stenosis