Blood Viscosity, Glycemic Markers and Blood Pressure: A Study in Middle-Aged Normotensive and Hypertensive Type 2 Diabetics

Abstract

Altered blood viscosity (BV) may affect blood pressure (BP) and develops further complications in diabetes. A case-control study was performed to examine the relationship of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hematocrit, fibrinogen, and BV with glycemic markers and BP in middle-aged normotensive and hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients and healthy controls. A total of 145 participants between age group 30–50 years divided into three groups; controls (n = 60), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, n = 55), and T2DM with hypertension (T2DM + HTN, n = 30). ESR and hematocrit were determined by Wintrobe’s method. Plasma fibrinogen was measured using Lempert method and BV calculated using Merill’s formula. T2DM and T2DM + HTN patients had higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ESR, and fibrinogencompared to controls. In both male and female SBP, DBP, MAP, FPG, and HbA1c were significantly higher in T2DM and T2DM + HTN groups, compared to controls. Further, linear regression analysis revealed a positive association of ESR and fibrinogen with SBP, DBP, MAP, FPG, HbA1c, and positive diabetic status in all participants. Also, in the same analysis, BV showed a positive association with SBP, DBP, and MAP. The association of ESR and fibrinogenwith glycemic markers and BP in diabetes supporting the value of emerging marker’s for early prediction of T2DM and hypertension.