AUTHOR=Hu Feng , Lu Feng , Xiao Huiling , Dong Meixue , Xu Yan 

TITLE=Relationship Between Hypertension and Basilar Atherosclerosis in Chinese Han Population: A High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.830664

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.830664

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p>To investigate the relationship between hypertension and basilar atherosclerosis evaluated by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) in the Chinese Han population.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>High resolution-MRI vessel wall imaging was performed in selected 193 patients for various indications. Multivariable logistic regression models based on odds ratio (<italic>OR</italic>) with their associated 95% confidence interval (<italic>CI</italic>) were used to assess the relationship between hypertension and basilar artery (BA) plaque, moderate or severe stenosis of BA plaque, and vulnerable plaque. A linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between hypertension and BA plaque numbers.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Patients with hypertension had a higher proportion of BA plaque and vulnerable plaque as well as more number of enhancements of BA plaque and serious plaque compared with normotensive patients (all values of <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that patients with hypertension had an increased risk for and more number of enhancements of BA plaque (adjusted-<italic>OR</italic>: 4.32, 95% <italic>CI</italic> 1.89–9.88, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001; adjusted-β: 0.55, 95% <italic>CI</italic> 0.14–0.96, <italic>p</italic> = 0.009, respectively) and had a higher proportion of moderate or severe stenosis of BA plaque and vulnerable plaque (adjusted-<italic>OR</italic>: 3.08, 95% <italic>CI</italic> 0.77–12.32, <italic>p</italic> = 0.111; adjusted-<italic>OR</italic>: 4.52, 95% <italic>CI</italic> 1.50–13.64, <italic>p</italic> = 0.007, respectively) compared with the normotensive group. Moreover, there was a saturation effect of age on the prevalence of BA plaque and vulnerable plaque.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Hypertension was the independent risk factor of BA plaque and vulnerable plaque assessed by HR-MRI in the Chinese Han population.</p></sec>