Aortic Diameter and Degree of Systemic Hypertension in South East Nigeria
NjezeNgozi R., Onuh A. C., Ibezim E, Ike S. O.

Introduction
Background: The aorta, one of the largest blood vessels in the body, has an unusual closeness to the left ventricle. It contains bar receptors which control blood pressure. It is understandable that it would enlarge when there is increased blood volume load to the heart and to it. Objective: A prospective study done to determine the relationship between level of blood pressure and aortic diameter. The study done over three years involves 200 hypertensive’s attending the cardiology clinic in Enugu, Nigeria. They had routine Chest radiograph as part of their investigations for hypertension. Results: There were 134 females and 66 males. All had increased aortic diameter which increased progressively with age up to the age of 79. Female group had a more significant diameter increase (p-value =0.004) Males and females diameters when compared had statistically significant difference (p value =0.001) . Mean aortic diameter measured on plain chest radiograph in this study is 6.93±1.3.Conclusion: Aortic diameter increased progressively with age and this was more significant in females. There was no correlation between aortic diameter and blood pressure in these respondents. The chest radiograph has been found to be invaluable in management of hypertension as aortic widening was easily visualized in the chest radiograph of these hypertensives.

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