Measurement of intima media thickness of carotid artery in 200 hypertensive Moroccan patients

Abdellatif Ezzouak; Alaeddine Lagziri; Mehdi Badidi

Volume : X, Issue : IV, April - 2020

Measurement of intima media thickness of carotid artery in 200 hypertensive Moroccan patients

Abdellatif Ezzouak, Alaeddine Lagziri, Mehdi Badidi

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION : Carotid artery intima media thickness (CAIMT) is considered a marker of cardiovascular risk. It represents the earliest currently detectable form of atherosclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this work, we measured the CAIMT in a population of 200 asymptomatic hypertensives seen in external cardiology consultation at the Moulay Ismail Military Hospital in Meknes and determined the prevalence of an increased CAIMT and the correlation with cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and overall cardiovascular risk level based on Framingham and ESH/ESC scores. RESULTS: Our 200 hypertensive patients (60% of men) are on average 62.06 years old (40 and 81 years old). The CVRF identified were dominated by total hypercholesterolemia (38%), smoking (34%), obesity (32%), diabetes mellitus (28%) and left ventricular hypertrophy (22%). The overall cardiovascular risk according to Framingham was high in 34% and very high in 26% of patients. The CAIMT was increased in 54% of our patients. It was correlated with age over 50 and the level of cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSION: the prevalence of increased CAIMT is high in our hypertensive patients (54%). It can be used to better determine the level of general cardiovascular risk. Its use should be popularized for better cardiovascular prevention.