HYPERTENSION AND OBESITY IN RELATION TO HIGH SENSITIVITY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN AND LIPID PROFILE IN IRAQI PATIENTS

High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is one of new inflammatory markers which has been proposed as independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is positively associated with body weight. Little is known, however, about the utility of (hs-CRP) and other biomarkers in obese hypertensive Iraqi patients. Objectives: To examine the hypothesis that there is a relation between obesity, hypertension and a chronic low-grade inflammatory status (represented by high hs-CRP). Patients and Method: A total number of 99 patients stratified according to hypertension and obesity into two groups: 1. Obese hypertensive: Body mass index (BMI 30 kg/m2 and blood pressure (BP) 140/90 mmHg ± history of taking anti hypertensive medications), n = 65, Age = (56.02 ± 4.379) years, BMI =(35.68 ± 4.78) kg/m². 2. Over weight normotensive: (BMI 25 kg/m² and 30 kg/m2, BP 140/90 mmHg), n= 34, Age = (56.44 ± 3.17) years, BMI = (26.06 ± 3.05) kg/m². Assessment of (hs-CRP) and lipid profile (total serum cholesterol (s.chol), serum triglyceride (s.TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was done.