Hyperhomocysteinemia in Patients of Essential Hypertension Presenting with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of Hyperhomocysteinemia in patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Internal Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from Feb 2018 to Jan 2019. Methodology: The patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke between 20-70 years of age of either gender were evaluated for the serum homocysteine level. Results: A total 195 patients of essential hypertension presenting with acute ischemic stroke for ≥24 hours duration, of age between 20-70 years, of both genders were included in the study by non-probability consecutive sampling. Majority of patients were between 50-59 year of age (34.3%) with majority of them were male (66.4%). Out of 195, 70.3% were smokers, 56.4% were diabetics, 60.5% were obese and 71.7% had hyperhomocysteinemia respectively. The statistical significance was also observed for hyperhomocysteinemia in accordance with age (p=0.04), gender (p=0.02), obesity (p=0.03) smoking (p=0.01) and diabetes mellitus (p=0.03). Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia is more prevalent in patients of essential hypertension with acute ischemic stroke.