The Effect of Age on Cardiothoracic Ratio (CTR) of Non hypertensive and Hypertensive Berom Adults in Jos-North

Cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) is a simple, affordable, and non-invasive radiographic measure used to estimate the heart size, particularly useful in settings with limited access to advanced diagnostic tools. Ethnic and age-related factors can influence thoracic and cardiac morphology, yet data on CTR variations among specific Nigerian ethnic groups like the Berom are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of age on CTR among non-hypertensive and hypertensive Berom adults in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 120 third-generation Berom adults aged 22–70 years, with equal representation of non-hypertensive and hypertensive males and females. Participants were recruited through consecutive sampling in the Kabong district of Jos North local government area. Posterior-anterior (PA) chest radiographs were taken, and CTR was computed as the ratio of transverse cardiac to transverse thoracic diameter. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. The results showed a progressive increase in mean CTR with age in both the non-hypertensive and hypertensive groups. However, the hypertensive participants consistently exhibited significantly higher CTR values across all age categories (p < 0.01). Pearson correlation revealed a strong positive relationship between CTR and age among hypertensives (r = 0.62, p < 0.001), while no significant correlation was found among non-hypertensives. These findings suggest that CTR increases with age, particularly in hypertensive individuals. Incorporating age-specific CTR evaluation may improve cardiovascular risk assessment and early diagnosis of cardiomegaly in this population using basic chest radiography.

Key Words: age, Berom, cardiothoracic ratio, chest radiography, hypertension