Comparison of Carotid Artery Luminal Diameter by B-Mode Ultrasound in Hypertensive and Normotensive Adults

Abstract

Background

An increased carotid artery luminal diameter (CALD) is an indicator of arterial remodeling occurring in response to the development of cerebrovascular disease (CVD). However, there is a paucity of data comparing the common carotid luminal diameter of hypertensive with normotensive adults in the study locality.

Objective

This study is therefore aimed at evaluating the CCALD in hypertensive and normotensive adults.

Methodology

This study involved 188 hypertensive and 144 normotensive subjects. The age range of the 332 subjects comprising 151 males and 181 females was 18 to 80 years, with mean ages of 52.49 ± 15.31 years and 44.45 ± 16.03 years for the hypertensive and normotensive subjects, respectively. The common carotid artery luminal diameter (CCALD) at the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycles was scanned and measured using a Venue 50 ultrasound scanner with electronic callipers and a high-frequency linear array transducer.

Results

The overall mean CCALD was 6.20 ± 1.01 mm and 5.88 ± 0.77 mm for hypertensive and normotensive subjects, respectively. The mean CCALD value was significantly higher in hypertensive subjects compared to the normotensive subjects (p = 0.000). The mean CCALD correlated positively with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive females, while no significant correlations were observed among normotensives. Males in both cohort groups had significantly higher CCALD when compared to their female counterparts. The overall mean CCALD in hypertensive subjects was 6.31 ± 1.07 mm and 6.09 ± 0.94 mm for the right and left sides, respectively, while normotensives had 6.05 ± 0.79 mm and 5.71 ± 0.70 mm for the right and left side, respectively.

Conclusion

In this study, the mean CCALD value in hypertensives is significantly higher compared to the normotensive subjects. Blood pressure levels have significant effects on CCALD in hypertensive female subjects.