Inflammatory biomarkers and their correlates among hypertensive population in two tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Several cross-sectional studies suggest that inflammation may be involved in the development of hypertension. The objective of the study was to examined inflammatory biomarkers — C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma fibrinogen and their correlates among hypertensive population in two tertiary hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria. A total of 316 hypertensive patients aged 25 to 76 years and 158 age- and sex- matched apparently healthy normotensive subjects seen in the Medical and Out Patient Departments of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria were included in the study between July and December, 2016. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were done using standard techniques. Serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen concentrations were estimated by ELISA and assay kit respectively. The results showed that, CRP, fibrinogen, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significantly (p˂0.001) higher in hypertensive subjects than normotensive subjects. Significant positive correlations were established between BMI and each of CRP and fibrinogen in hypertensive patients. In conclusion, the results in the current study demonstrates that serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen levels are elevated in hypertensive subjects and positively correlated with BMI. Thus routine measurement of serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen can be a potential tool for early identification of individuals at the risk for development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Hypertension, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, Sokoto.