Specific thresholds for emerging cardiometabolic risk markers of elevated carotid intima – media thickness (CIMT) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a hospital setting in Kinshasa, DR Congo

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To identify independent determinants of selected emerging cardiometabolic risk factors of increased carotid intima – media thickness (CIMT) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a hospital setting in Kinshasa. Material and method: A cross-sectional study was performed between September 2018 and January 2021 in hypertensive patients admitted to Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa (CUK), Centre Hospitalier Mère et Enfant Monkole (CHME) and Hôpital Biamba Marie Mutombo (HBMM) to measure CIMT on ultra sonography. Some cardiometabolic and atherogenic markers were evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and logistical regression. Results: 280 hypertensive patients were examined with 72.9% uncontrolled hypertension. The CMIT threshold >0.8 mm associated with uncontrolled hypertension was significantly and independently predictive of subclinical atherosclerosis. Conclusion: The present study identified independent determinants of increased CIMT in globally uncontrolled hypertensive patients in a hospital setting in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Thus, the optimal and specific thresholds for subclinical atherosclerosis were: urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, TyG Index, BMI and LVMI in the direction of health promotion and atherosclerosis prevalence in the management of hypertensive patients in the hospital setting of Kinshasa, DR Congo.