Abstract:
C-reactive protein (CRP) was the first acute-phase protein to be described and is an exquisitely sensitive systemic marker of inflammation and tissue damage especially in cardiovascular disease(CVD). Hypertension is a common health problem throughout the worldand one of the major riskfactors for CVD.Vitamin D may reduce hypertension prevalence through its action on Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS), intracellular calcium homeostasis and regulation of vascular smooth muscle contractility.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate CRP as a predictor marker for cardiovascular disease among hypertensive vitamin D deficient patients in Khartoum State, and to correlate serum vitamin D and CRP to the study variables (gender, body mass index, age and duration).
Eighty eight hypertensive patients were enrolled in this study, serum vitamin D level was estimated using ELISA competitive assay, and serum CRP level was estimated by Cobas C311 automated chemistry analyzer, data analyzed using (SPSS) computer program.
The results of frequencies showed that the gender variation are approximately equal 1: 1 fold (57.5% males and 46.5% females). Females, overweight subjects and more than 5 years patients showed decrease in vitamin D level, with P-values (0.000, 0.033 and 0.041)respectively. The mean serum level of CRP was significantly increased in overweight group (P-value 0.014). No significant differences were found in the mean of vitamin D and CRP level in different age groups. The mean serum levels of CRP were showed insignificant differences in study group classified based on (gender and duration), P-values (0.374 and 0.330) respectively.The mean serum level of CRP was significantly increased in vitamin D deficient group (P-value 0.049). Pearson's correlation showed, there was weak negative correlationbetween vitamin D and CRP(Pearson's r: -0.137, P- value = 0.205).
The results of this study conclude that: CRP is a useful predictor marker for cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients with vitamin D deficiency; females are more susceptible for vitamin D deficient than males. More studies recommended to underlying the mechanism of association between hypertension, vitamin D and CRP.
