ISSN 2996-8215
International Journal of Cardiology | Vol. 16, No. 2, February 2025 | pp. 9–16
DOI: 10.46882/2025/IJC/000190
Original Research Article
Cardiovascular Risk Profiles and Prevalence of Subclinical Atherosclerosis across Carotid Measurements in Asymptomatic Civil Servants
Chidi O. Okafor¹, Babajide A. Adebayo¹, Funmilayo K. Balogun²
¹Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
²Division of Cardiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract:
The burden of non-communicable cardiovascular disease is rising rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa due to rapid urbanization, dietary modification, and epidemiological shifts. However, clinical data detailing the precise prevalence of subclinical macrovascular disease in native African cohorts remain sparse. This cross-sectional study evaluated traditional cardiovascular risk profiles and estimated the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis using high-resolution carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements in an asymptomatic adult urban population. We evaluated 350 asymptomatic civil servants aged 30 to 70 years residing in Lagos, Nigeria. Traditional metabolic and anthro-biometric risk factors were analyzed via structured laboratory profiling. B-mode ultrasound quantified CIMT; subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as a maximum CIMT greater than or equal to 0.9 mm or the presence of a distinct carotid plaque. The prevalence of hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and impaired fasting glucose was 42.3%, 28.6%, 34.1%, and 11.4%, respectively. Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was identified in 54 participants (15.4%), with discrete macrovascular plaques found in 4.3% of the overall cohort. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that advanced age (odds ratio: 1.08 per year, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (odds ratio: 1.04 per mmHg, p = 0.01), and elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (odds ratio: 1.32 per mmol/L, p = 0.03) were independently associated with subclinical macrovascular disease. Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis is highly prevalent among asymptomatic urban West African adults, driven primarily by high rates of undetected or poorly controlled traditional risk factors like hypertension.
Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors, Subclinical atherosclerosis, Carotid intima-media thickness, Urban health, West Africa, Primary prevention
Received: November 04, 2024; Revised: December 19, 2024; Accepted: January 11, 2025; Published: February 15, 2025