LBPS 02–29 NECK CIRCUMFERENCE IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF RELATIVE SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION IN YOUNG ADULT WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA

Abstract

Objective: A seemingly interesting observation in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is that they usually have lower systemic blood pressures (BP) and insulin resistance (IR) than persons in the general population in spite of endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation and vasculopathy. However, the relative systemic hypertension (rHTN) has been linked to increased risk of pulmonary hypertension, increased blood viscosity and renal insufficiency, which could indicate a risk of developing cardiometabolic disorder (CMD) in SCA. We therefore hypothesized that neck circumference (NC) and CMD marker; triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index would independently predict rHTN in young adults with SCA in steady state. Design and Method: We compared the anthropometrical, hematological, hemorheological and CMD markers between SCA patients with normal BP < 120/70 mmHg; nHTN, n = 65) and those with rHTN (BP ≥ 120/70 mmHg, n = 32). Results: Our results showed that SCA with rHTN had significantly higher body weight, waist circumference, NC, plasma viscosity, systolic and diastolic BP. Results also indicated that NC (OR: 2.98; 95% CI 1.46 to 6.10, p < 0.01) was a predictor of rHTN in SCA independent of gender, age, weight, waist circumference, BMI, blood viscosity, triglyceride or TyG. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis also showed that NC was the most efficient predictor of rHTN than other CMD markers. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that increased NC is a salient risk factor that would promote the development of rHTN in SCA. The finding therefore underscores the utility of NC in early detection and stratification of systemic hypertension, particularly in individuals with SCA.