Association of Metabolic Markers of Insulin Resistance with Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive Adults in Makurdi, Nigeria
Ayu Agbecha *
Department of Chemical Pathology, Federal Medical Center Makurdi, Nigeria
Rebecca M. Gali
Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Elija N. Yisa
Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria
Chidozie E. Agu
Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background of Study: Previous studies observed insulin resistance in the hypertensive population. However, evidence-based studies of insulin resistance in prehypertension are scant.
Aim: Our study aimed at determining the presence of insulin resistance and its correlation with blood pressure in prehypertensive adults.
Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study involving randomly selected 70 healthy adults in Makurdi, Nigeria. Anthropometric parameters and metabolic markers of insulin resistance (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], fasting serum insulin [FSI], triglycerides [TGs], triglyceride/high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] ratio [TG/HDL-C]) in apparently healthy adults were measured. The metabolic markers of IR in 35 prehypertensives were compared with anthropometrically matched 35 normotensive controls using the student’s t-test. Associations of blood pressure (systolic-SBP and diastolic-DBP) with metabolic markers of insulin resistance in prehypertensives and normotensives were determined using Pearson correlation analysis.
Results: A significantly elevated (P<0.05) SBP, DBP, FSI, and HOMA-IR was observed in prehypertensives compared to matched normotensive controls. A significant positive correlation (P<0.01) was observed between SBP and insulin (r=0.762), HOMA-IR (r=0.756), TGs (r=0.586), TG/HDL-C (r=0.499); DBP and insulin (r=0.659), HOMA-IR (r=0.634), TGs (r=0.469), TG/HDL-C (r=0.469) in prehypertensives. In normotensives, a significant positive correlation (P<0.05) was observed between DBP and TGs (r=0.371), TG/HDL-C (r=0.376); age (r=0.372), BMI (r=0.523), WC (r=0.338).
Conclusion: Our study shows that insulin resistance is associated with elevated blood pressure and could mediate the progression of normotension through prehypertension to hypertension.
Keywords: Prehypertension, insulin resistance, lipids, blood pressure