Homocysteine levels and cardiovascular disease risk factors in chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertensive and healthy Nigerian adults: A comparative retrospective study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate homocysteine (Hcy) levels in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension and a healthy Nigerian population, and to assess their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. SETTING: The study was conducted using data from the Ibadan CRECKID (Cardiovascular and Renal Event in People with Chronic Kidney Disease) study in Nigeria. Participants: A total of 420 adults (aged 18+) categorised into three groups: individuals with stage 2 CKD or higher, hypertensive non-CKD individuals and normotensive individuals. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was the difference in serum Hcy levels across the groups; secondary outcomes included the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy) and correlation with fibroblast growth factor (FGF). RESULTS: No significant difference in mean serum Hcy levels among the CKD, hypertensive and healthy groups (p=0.39) was observed. However, HHcy (≥15 µmol/L) prevalence was significantly higher in the hypertensive group (p<0.05). A strong positive correlation between Hcy levels and FGF was identified across all groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that Hcy levels may not serve as a reliable predictor of CVD outcomes across populations with varying kidney function and CVD risk profiles.