Risk factors for carotid plaque formation in patients with essential hypertension based on LASSO-Cox regression model

Huang Yanjun; Zhang Jingliang; Liu Xiansong; Liu Jiaxin; Jia Lili

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-0126.2025.09.005

Abstract：Objective To analyze the influencing factors for carotid plaque formation in patients with essential hypertension(EH)with LASSO-Cox regression.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 325 patients with new-onset hypertension admitted to the First Affiliated Hos-pital of Zhengzhou University from March 2020 to March 2021.Among them,308 completed a fol-low-up of 2-year,and then according to carotid plaque occurred or not(the carotid intima-media thickness≥1.5 mm),they were divided into in the occurrence group(85 cases)and non-occur-rence group(223 cases).Clinical data and circular RNA expression level were compared between the two groups.LASSO regression model was used to screen out the predictors of carotid plaque formation,and Cox regression model was employed to explore the influencing factors of the for-mation.Results The occurrence group had significantly advanced age,higher body mass index and CIMT,larger proportion of diabetes mellitus,and elevated serum uric acid and homocysteine(Hey)levels,but lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)than the non-occurrence group(P＜0.01).In addition,the expression levels of has-circ-0105130,has-circ-0109569,has-circ-0072659,has-circ-0079586 and has-circ-0064684 were obviously higher in the occurrence group than the non-occurrence group(P＜0.01).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that has-circ-0109569 and Hcy were independent risk factors for carotid plaque formation(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and HDL-C was an independent protective factor(P＜0.01).The AUC value of for the combination of has-circ-0109569,HDL-C and Hcy in prediction of carotid artery plaques was 0.977(95％CI:0.953-0.991,P＜0.01).Conclusion High has-circ-0109569 and Hcy and low HDL-C levels are risk factors for carotid plaque formation in the EH patients.