Study the relationship between the level of blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in the elderly patients with essential hypertension

Objective To study the relationship bwtewwn the level of blood pressure and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in the elderly patients with essential hypertension. Methods 80 elderly patients suffering from essential hypertension and 75 healthy elderly people were selected. Carotid IMT was determined by high resolution ultrasound. Results Among 80 hypertensive cases, with blood pressure became higher, carotid IMT was significantly thicker. 56 cases were found with carotid artery plaque. The ratio of plaque in the elderly patients with essential hypertension was significantly higher than that in the normal controls. Conclusions Carotid artery ultrasound can account the extent of atherosclerosis, monitor the progress and prognosis of the essential hypertension, have a great significance on prevention and therapy for atherosclerosis.