Inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction markers in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Hypertension and diabetes are two of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, and both pathologies overlap significantly in their pathophysiological mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of inflammatory markers and endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, to compare with healthy individuals, and to determine whether the coexistence of both pathologies has a different effect on the behavior of these markers. A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional research was carried out from July 2022 to February 2023. A total of 120 individuals were selected for this study (30 controls, 30 with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 30 with hypertension and 30 with diabetes plus hypertension). Each subject had a fasting blood sample drawn for determination of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin, sICAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6 and TNF-α. A significant increase in the concentration of sICAM-1, sE-selectin, IL-6 and TNF-α was found in diabetic, hypertensive and diabetic patients with hypertension when compared to controls (p<0.0001). The coexistence of diabetes and hypertension did not represent a significant elevation in the concentration of markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation. In conclusion, our results suggest endothelial activation as well as an inflammatory state in patients with diabetes and hypertension, indicated by elevated levels of circulating adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. The simultaneous presence of diabetes and hypertension did not have an additive effect on the levels of these molecules.