Rusul Hanoon Hasan¹, Qutaiba A Qasim¹ , Adnan Taan Al Khafaji²

Abstract

Purpose: To determine changes in selected inflammatory parameters as potential markers and risk factors for hypertension. Methods: A case-control design with 150 participants comprising 100 hypertensive patients (study group) and 50 healthy individuals that served as controls was evaluated. The study was carried out from October 2023 to July 2024 in AL Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital, Basra, Iraq. Demographic parameters such as age, gender, family history, smoking status and other sociodemographic information of the patients were documented using questionnaire. Lipid profiles, urea, serum creatinine and other chronic disease inflammatory parameters, including Pro B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also analyzed. Results: There were significantly increased levels of IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, H2O2, and Pro B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in sera of hypertensive patients compared to control group (p < 0.05). Hypertensive patients had higher lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)) than control group (p < 0.05), except for HDL (42.3650 ± 9.24 mg/dL), which was lower. The study group had significantly higher concentrations of urea and serum creatinine when compared with control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Inflammatory and metabolic mediators are risk factors for hypertension. As the levels of these variables increase, the likelihood of developing or worsening hypertension also increases. Further studies are needed to validate the findings reported.