Systemic inflammation in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease in different age groups

Aim. To determine and compare the levels of systemic inflammation markers (C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines) in different age groups of hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Material and Methods. The study involved 106 patients (men) with hypertension and stable angina. Group 1 included 59 young and middle-aged individuals (52 [46.5; 55] years); group 2 comprised 47 elderly individuals (64 [62; 67] years; p < 0.001). The exclusion criteria were female gender, diabetes, myocardial infarction in the previous six months, exacerbation phase of chronic diseases, acute infectious and mental illnesses. The CRP levels were determined by ELISA test system (Biomerica, USA). The serum cytokine levels were assessed using Vector Best test systems (Russia). Statistical processing of data was performed in the freely distributed Rstudio software. The differences were considered statistically significant if p < 0.05.

Results. The levels of CRP and the frequencies of its increase did not significantly differ in patients with hypertension and CAD in different age groups and were within the reference values, which was, probably, due to the use of drugs with systemic antiinflammatory effect. Increases in the IL-6 levels were more common in group of young and middle-aged men (47, 85.5%/27, 62.8%, p = 0.032). Increases in the IL-8 levels were also more frequently detected in young and middle-aged patients (10.7 [7.3; 19]/5.9 [4.35; 9.3], p = 0.006).

Conclusion. Obtained data suggest both an increased risk of acute cardiovascular events and more aggressive course of CAD in young and middle-aged patients with hypertension, and a possible onset of early vascular aging in this group. 

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