ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the frequency of hypertension in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital and compare the mean high sensitivity-C-reactive protein in hypertensive and normotensive cases.

Study design: Cross-sectional study

Place & duration of study: West Medical Ward,MayoHospital Lahore from October 2017 till April 2018.

Methods: A total of204 cases were enrolled. Blood pressure (BP) of patients was checked. Patients were divided into two Groups on the basis of presence or absence of Hypertension. Cases were labeled as Hypertensive, if BP >140/90mmHg and as Normotensive, if BP <140/90mmHg on two consecutive occasions. Sample for high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) from patients of both groups was drawn and sent to hospital laboratory and level of hs-CRP was noted.

Results: In this study, out of 204 cases, hypertension was recorded in52(25.49%) patients while 152(74.51%) patients were normotensive. Comparison of mean hs-C-reactive protein in hypertensive and normotensive cases was done. Hs-C reactive protein level in hypertensive cases was 3.23±0.83mg/L while in normotensive cases level was 1.58±0.70 mg/L. p value was estimated as 0.000.

Conclusion: We concluded that the mean hs-CRP is significantly higher in hypertensive cases as compared to normotensive controls. However, in future early screening of CRP should be done to avoid delayed diagnosis and management of hypertension.

Keywords: Hypertension, normotensive,hs-C-reactive protein