Higher scores for systemic inflammatory markers linked to higher prevalence of hypertension

In a sweeping epidemiological analysis aimed at unraveling the mysteries of hypertension, researchers have unveiled a significant breakthrough in understanding the associations between systemic inflammation markers and the prevalence of this prevalent health condition. They found a robust and significant positive correlation between systemic immune inflammation index (SII), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) with the prevalence of hypertension, thus underscoring the intricate relationship between systemic inflammation and hypertension.

The study results were published in the journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders.

Hypertension significantly impacts cardiovascular outcomes, being a major predictor of global mortality and public health concerns. Research suggests links between autoimmunity, inflammation, metabolism, and hypertension. While the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and hypertension association are explored, the correlations between the system inflammation response index (SIRI) and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) remain uninvestigated. Hence, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to comprehensively analyze these inflammation markers, seeking potential biomarkers for early hypertension detection. The present cross-sectional study engaged a substantial cohort of 119,664 individuals participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A meticulous examination of the three systemic inflammation markers—namely, the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI)—and their associations with hypertension prevalence was carried out.

• The findings unveiled a gradual increase in hypertension prevalence rates with ascending quartiles of logSII, logSIRI, and logAISI.
• In continuous analyses, each unit increase in logSII, logSIRI, and logAISI corresponded to a 20.3%, 20.1%, and 23.7% elevated risk of hypertension, respectively.
• When compared to individuals in the lowest quartiles, those in the highest quartiles of logSII, logSIRI, and logAISI faced hypertension risks elevated by 1.114-fold, 1.143-fold, and 1.186-fold, respectively.
• The Restricted Cubic Splines (RCS) analysis further illuminated a non-linear relationship between the escalation of systemic inflammation markers and the prevalence of hypertension.
• Specifically, a per standard deviation increase in any of these variables correlated with a 9%, 16%, and 11% respective rise in hypertension prevalence.