Association of high blood pressure with raised homocysteine level among urban population- A case control study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Raised homocysteine level is also an important independent risk factor for CVD. This study sought to determine whether there is any relationship between plasma homocysteine and blood pressure levels. Method: A case control study was conducted among 200 hypertensive cases and 200 normal healthy control groups. Cases were from the Department of medicine and hypertensive clinics at GMC, Baramati and similar controls were selected from patients’ neighborhood. Detailed clinical assessment as well as plasma homocysteine level were assessed and compared in both. Results: Hypertensive cases had higher mean homocysteine level (21.3 ± 4.6 μmol/L) from controls (13.0 ± 6.0 μmol/L), p<0.001. Homocysteine is positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among both hypertensive patients and healthy controls. In both hypertensive subjects and healthy control, homocysteine level has weak positive correlation with DBP and moderate to strong positive correlation with SBP. The hypertensive cases had very high chance (OR=52.4) of developing hyperhomocysteinemia (>15 μmol/L), p<0.001. Conclusion: This study showed higher mean plasma homocysteine levels in hypertensive subjects than controls. Serum homocysteine concentrations were positively associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in a general adult population.