Hyperhomocysteinemia in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Primary Hypertension in Can Tho City, Vietnam

Background: Elevated levels of blood total homocysteine is one of the cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients. Objectives: Determine the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and its associated factors in newly diagnosed primary hypertension patients. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study on 105 patients with newly diagnosed primary hypertension at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from May 2017 to May 2018. Total homocysteine levels and related factors were collected at the study time. Results: The mean plasma total homocysteine level was 16.24 ± 4.49 µmol/L. There were 78 patients with elevated plasma total homocysteine levels ≥15 µmol/L, accounting for 74.3% of all patients. Being elderly, gender, hypertension stage, and diabetes were factors associated with hyperhomocysteinemia (p < 0.05). Total homocysteine levels were positively correlated with SBP, DBP, and age with r(SBP) = 0.696, r(DBP) = 0.585, and r(age) = 0.286. Conclusion: Research on the subpopulation of Vietnamese people shows that hyperhomocysteinemia is common in patients with newly diagnosed primary hypertension, and high blood total homocysteine levels are often related to age, sex, hypertension stage, and diabetes.