Aortic Root Dilatation in African Hypertensives Subjects: Frequency of Occurrence and Associations: A Multicentre Echocardiographic Survey

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Anecdotal reports suggest that hypertension is associated with an increased predisposition to aortic root dilatation (ARD). Reports on epidemiology of ARD and demographic or clinical associations among African hypertensive subjects are scarce. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of ARD among Nigerian hypertensive subjects.

Methods: This was a retrospective review analysis of hypertensive subjects who had echocardiography performed. ARD was defined according to three criteria using the normograms recently proposed by Devereux et al. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: ARD was present in 34 (7.3%) vs. 10 (2.15%) vs. 12 (2.58%) using the aortic sinus index, pHeight, pBSA respectively. The frequency of ARD using any of the three parameters was 8.37% (39 subjects). ARD was significantly more common among males (31.03% of males vs. 2.84% of females. Compared to hypertensive without ARD, those with ARD were more likely to be older, had a significantly higher systolic blood pressure, left ventricular posterior and interventricular septal thickness in diastole and left ventricular mass/index. Aortic sinus index and aortic root dimension were well significantly correlated to age, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, interventricular septal thickness in diastole, posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass/index and height.

Conclusion: Males are more likely to have ARD than females among African hypertensive subjects. Age, systolic blood pressure and echocardiographic parameters are determinants of aortic root dimensions. ARD seems to be associated with a more likely chance of increased cardiovascular risk in African hypertensive subjects