The relationship between age, blood pressure, sex, and blood glucose levels with the risk of cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis: A retrospective study

Abstract

Cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis are pivotal radiographic indicators of cardiovascular pathology, often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This retrospective analytical study investigates the relationships between age, blood pressure, sex, and blood glucose levels and their influence on the risk of cardiomegaly and aortic arch atherosclerosis in patients under 50 years of age. Medical records from 133 patients treated at Royal Prima General Hospital, Medan, between May 2024 and May 2025 were analyzed using logistic regression to identify significant predictors. Results demonstrated that both advancing age and elevated blood pressure were strong, independent, and statistically significant risk factors for cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis (p < 0.001). Each one-year increment in age increased the odds of cardiomegaly by 12.7% and atherosclerosis by 11.8%, while each unit rise in blood pressure was associated with a 4.3% and 8.6% increase in odds for cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis, respectively. In contrast, sex and blood glucose levels did not show statistically significant associations in the studied cohort. These findings underscore the critical role of age- and blood pressure-related cardiovascular remodeling and vascular pathology in early-onset cardiomegaly and atherosclerosis. The lack of significant association with sex and blood glucose suggests complex, multifactorial interactions warranting further investigation in larger, more diverse populations. Clinically, this study highlights the imperative for rigorous, lifelong blood pressure control and cardiovascular monitoring to mitigate the progression of these conditions.

Keywords: cardiomegaly, atherosclerosis, blood pressure, aging, cardiovascular risk       factors