European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HYPERTENSION AND AORTIC ROOT DIAMETER AMONGST NIGERIANS

Erekosima Boma Uriah*, Gwunireama Israel Ukie, Kiridi Enefia Kelvin, Oki Blessed Oyinmiebi

ABSTRACT

Root of aorta provides linkage between the heart and the circulation, with documented reports of relationship with hypertension. The aim of this study was to use echocardiogram to evaluate the aortic root diameter in normotensive and hypertensive subjects, males and females ≥18years of age. Sixty two (62) volunteers were engaged in this research (32 males, 52%; 30 females,48%). Data were collected primarily and analysed using SPSS version 25.0. ANOVA, t-test and correlation were used to analyse the data, p<0.05 at 95% (confidence interval). Results showed that female hypertensives had a mean aortic diameter of 2.18cm compared to female normotensives, 1.77cm at the annulus, older female adults had higher aortic diameter at the aortic valve with a mean of 2.1cm. T-test was used to ascertain gender difference at the aortic valve, males had 2.050.30, females had 1.840.23, ANOVA established no significant (p>0.05) relationship between aortic diameters at various levels in both sexes with BMI, also aortic diameter did not increase with increasing age in males. This study recommends that cardiologists should do regular echocardiogram on their patients especially older females, and hypertensive females. In conclusion, this study provided reference values for aortic root diameter in normotensives and hypertensives in our population, it also revealed that female hypertensives have bigger aortic root diameter at annulus, older female adults also have a higher aortic root diameter at the aortic valve, males have a higher aortic root diameter at the aortic valve compared to females.

Keywords: Echocardiography, Aortic root, annulus, aortic valve, normotensive, hypertensive.