THE ROLE OF HSCRP AS A MARKER IN PREDICTING HYPERTENSION IN MIDDLE AGED ADULTS

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension in a very prevalent disease of current times and is a risk factor of
coronary artery disease and stroke. CRP is elevated in serum in response to variety of
inflammatory stimuli. hsCRP is highly sensitive than CRP and can be detected even in low
levels expressed in early stages of inflammation.
Materials and Methods: The study comprised of total of 100 participants who were grouped
as Group I comprising of 50 normotensive patients (<140mmHg & <90mmHg) and Group II
(>140mmHg & >90mmHg) hypertensive patients. Patients in the age range of 40-60yrs were
selected for the study. Patients with hypertensive complications, alcohol, oral contraception,
post menopausal women, lactating mothers, prolonged systemic infections, injuries,
prolonged medication were excluded from the study. Resting supine blood pressure was
recoded using sphygmomanometer; palpatory and auscultatory method was used to record
systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Venous blood samples were collected and serum was
used to assess the serum hsCRP using ELISA kit. Mean±SD was used to represent
continuous data and p value of <0.05 was implied as statistically significant.
The participants of the study were predominantly females (63) and in the age group of 18-60
years. The values of FBS, PPBS, HbA1c and Vit D were compared among Group I and
Group II and were statistically significant. 36 patients of Group II had Vit D deficiency, 9
patients had insufficient Vit D and only 5 patients had sufficient Vit D. Vit D showed an
inverse relationship with HbA1c more strongly than other parameters.
Results: Among 100 participants there were a total of 45 males and 55 females in the present
study in the age range of 40-60yrs. Majority of the participants in Group I were 50-55yrs and
in Group II 55-60yrs (p<0.001). The mean and standard deviation of BMI in Group I and II
was 23.26±1.88 and 29.4±2.47 respectively (p<0.001). The mean and standard deviation of
pulse rate in Group I and II was 83± 6.59 and 81.84 ± 8.44 respectively (p=0.445). The systolic
Vishaal S. et al. International Research Journal of Pharmacy, 2024, 15:7:1-12
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and diastolic blood pressure in Group I and Group II were 114.7±5.64 & 75.7±8.34; 158.23±17.84
& 95.68±9.87 (p<0.001). Correlation of serum hsCRP level and blood pressure showed a
positive R value of 0.2131 with systolic BP (p<0.05) and 0.4132 with diastolic BP (p<0.001).
The serum hsCRP levels noted in Group I were 34 low risk, 10 intermediate risk and 6 high
risk and in Group II were 2 low risk,17 intermediate risk and 31 high risk participants. The
serum hsCRP level in Group I was 0.76±0.15 and in Group II 1.63±1.18 (p<0.001).
Conclusion: hsCRP is readily available with long half-life hence can be used as a cost
effective technique which can detect small quantities of CRP. Elevated levels of hsCRP can
detect hypertensive changes in early stages hence can be considered as a marker of
hypertensive patients with risk. Thus early detection of hypertension can prevent
cardiovascular risk.