Ultrasound Measurement of the Abdominal Aortic Diameter in a Normotensive and Hypertensive Adult Nigerian Population in Enugu

Background: Hypertension has direct effect on abdominal aortic diameter. Some of its manifestations are aortic aneurysm and dissection.

Aims: To compare the AAD among adult normotensive and hypertensive subjects as well as correlating with age, sex and blood pressure.

Materials and Methods: Participants will be randomly selected from hypertensives attending Cardiology Clinic, in University of Nigeria teaching hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Controls will be apparently healthy normotensive volunteers. Participants’ demographics, weight, height and blood pressure will be documented. Ultrasound measurements of infrarenal AAD will be taken at 2 cm below the origin of the superior mesenteric artery. Data will be statistically analyzed and a p-value of ≤ 0.05 will be considered significant.

Results: 300 participants: comprising of 150 normotensives and 150 hypertensives were studied. The mean values for AAD in normotensive males and females were 16.66 ± 2.04 mm and 15.36 ± 1.97 mm respectively. Whereas the values for hypertensives, changed to 18.89 ± 2.64 mm and 16.57 ± 2.54 mm respectively. The AAD showed a positive correlation with systolic blood pressure (r2 = 0.317, P ≤ 0.001) but not with diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion: Abdominal aortic diameter was significantly larger among hypertensives than normotensives. The diameter increased with age in both normotensive and hypertensive subjects.