title: Sonographic assessment of the carotid intima-media thickness on B-mode ultrasonography in a Nigerian population.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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 < 0.0001] and 0.10 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.078 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] for the right and left sides, respectively). The female group showed a similar pattern of results (0.09 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.072 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] and 0.1 ± 0.02 cm vs. 0.076 ± 0.02 cm [P < 0.0001] for the right and left sides respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A statistically significant increase in CIMT was noted in both male and female hypertensives in comparison to a normal population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oluwagbemiga Oluwole
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ayoola
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mayomi A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Onuwaje
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Unit, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthony O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Akintomide
keywords: Carotid; hypertension; ultrasound