Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Arterial hypertension is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa due to its high frequency and to the cardiovascular risk that it entails. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of clinical and biological risk factors of hypertension in Bamako (Mali). METHODS: We conducted a case-control study, stratified in function of the sex, of 72 participants including 36 patients with hypertension and 36 controls. Twenty-two plasma biochemical parameters have been measured and analyzed using univariate and multivariate tests. RESULTS: Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 55.6% of women (p = 0.03) and 100% of men (p = 0.007) with hypertension. High NT-proBNP was also found in 16.7% of women (VIP > 1 in multivariate model) and of men with hypertension (p = 0.00006). A good multivariate predictive model (OPLS-DA) was only obtained in women with high blood pressure, with Q(2)cum = 0.73, attesting severe sexual dimorphism associated with arterial hypertension. This model involved eight parameters whose plasma concentration was modified (homocysteine, NT-proBNP, potassium, urea, blood glucose, sodium, chlorine and total proteins). CONCLUSION: We registered a significant association between hyperhomocysteinemia and arterial hypertension. Therefore, the assay of homocysteine associated with good management would decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases while improving the quality of life of hypertensive patients.