A study on the status of serum High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein and Fasting Blood Sugar in Patients with Hyperlipidemia attending a Super Specialty Teaching Hospital in North Kerala

Mohammed Muneersha T K*1, Saravanakumar R T1, Revikumar K G2, Fathima Habeeba T E3, Jobin Louis4, Mirshad P V4 1Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram– 608002, Tamil Nadu, India 2Kerala Institute of Drug Studies, Kavaradi Road, Pettah, Thiruvananthapuram-695024, Kerala, India 3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Nirmala College of Health Sciences, Nutmeg Gardens, Meloor, Kunnappilly P.O, Chalakudy, Thrissur680311, Kerala, India 4Department of Pharmacology, MES Medical College & Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Palachode P.O, Malappuram679338, Kerala, India


INTRODUCTION
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases will account for 69% of all deaths, with cardiovascular diseases in the leading position (Upadhyay, 2012). Coronary artery disease (CAD) is assuming increasing importance among the adult population in both developed and developing countries (Malakar et al., 2019). The globalization and industrialization, the lifestyle of people, has changed a lot globally. These changes have produced many consequences in the type of disease pattern worldwide, and that has increased the prevalence of chronic diseases like Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension and Dyslipidemia. The prevalence of CAD is rising rapidly in Urban India and Hyperlipidemia is referred to as the most common serious risk factor in the younger aged populations (Gupta et al., 2008). Surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in different Indian states showed that the urban Indian population has a higher prevalence of Hyperlipidemia than the rural population (Joshi et al., 2014). There are considerable variations in the prevalence of Hyperlipidemia were observed among rural populations in different Indian states, with south Indian states reporting the highest prevalence (Pandey et al., 2013). The prevalence of Hyperlipidemia in Indian population is found to be around 13.9%. But the regional disparity exists in prevalence rate with its highest rate in the south Indian population, which is 18.3% (Gupta, 2012).
Lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides are insoluble in plasma. Circulating lipid is carried in lipoproteins that transport the lipid to various tissues for energy use, lipid deposition, steroid hormone production, and bile acid formation (Rigotti et al., 2003). Hyperlipidemia refers to elevated levels of lipids in the blood and most of the people who have Hyperlipidemia experience no symptoms. The National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) guidelines de ine Hyperlipidemia on the basis of serum Total Cholesterol levels more than 200 mg/dl, Triglyceride level more than 150 mg/dl, High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol level less than 40 mg/dl (for men) and less than 50 mg/dl (for women) and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol level more 130 mg/dl (Grundy et al., 2004). The abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism are a major predisposing factor to atherosclerosis, increasing the risk for Coronary Heart Diseases (Hahn et al., 2008). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to atherosclerosis of the arterial vessel wall and to thrombosis is the foremost cause of increased morbidity and mortality rate. Sedentary lifestyle, poor quality of life, social habits like smoking and alcoholism, intake of junk foods are the key players in the development of Hyperlipidemia and associated complications. The most common comorbidities associated with the development of Hyperlipidemia include Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Thyroid dysfunction, central obesity and hormonal variations (Golden et al., 2012). Lifestyle changes and aggressive control of risk factors are urgently needed to reverse this trend. C -Reactive Protein (CRP) is a sensitive index of overall in lammatory activities in the body. In healthy individuals, CRP levels are negligible, but levels of CRP in the blood circulation increase under acute in lammatory conditions (Slade et al., 2003). Biologically CRP stimulates circulating monocytes and induces their recruitment to the arterial wall and It is also involved to be in the uptake of LDL Cholesterol by macrophages and induces expression of cell adhesion molecules and tissue factor. The CRP concentration in peripheral Circulation can be considered as the useful clinical marker in Metabolic Syndrome; because of its analytical stability, reproducible results, and commercial availability of high sensitivity (Pearson et al., 2003). Recent studies suggest that CRP may have direct pro-in lammatory effects and contributes to the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions (Paffen and Demaat, 2006). Scienti ic studies during the past decade have supported the signi icance of Hs-CRP level in predicting the incidence of Hyperlipidemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
This prospective observational study was conducted to compare the level of Hs-CRP and lipid pro ile status in newly diagnosed Hyperlipidemia patients with Normal Lipid Pro ile people. This study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology in a Post Graduate level Teaching Hospital, after obtaining the approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC). Newly Diagnosed Hyperlipidemia patients of both gender in an age group of 30 to 70 years attending the out-patient department were selected for the study. Healthy subjects of both gender falling the above age group were selected as a control group. The demographic parameters of the study subjects were recorded in the previously designed data collection form. All of the study subjects participated in the study in the overnight fasting status and blood was collected from each participant and Serum was separated from the whole blood for Biochemical analysis. The quantitative estimation of Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, High-Density Lipoprotein, Low-Density Lipoprotein level, Fasting blood Sugar level and High sensitive C -reactive protein was analyzed using suitable kits. After the biochemical estimation, values were entered in an Excel sheet and level of test and control group was statistically analyzed by using Student's t-test using SPSS software (version 21.0). The values were expressed in Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD) and P value less than 0.05 (p<0.05) was considered as the statistically signi icant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The control group comprised of 150 healthy subjects and test group comprised of 350 Patients found to be signi icantly higher in hyperlipidemia population when compared to that of people with normal lipid pro ile. The graphical representation of the serum High Sensitive C Reactive Protein is given in Graph 1. The mean ± SD of Fasting Blood Sugar level in the control group was 86.3 ± 6.7 and that of the test group was 131.2 ± 34.6. That means the Fasting Blood Sugar Level was found to be signi icantly higher in patients with Hyperlipidemia when it is compared to that of people with normal lipid pro ile. The graphical representation of the Fasting Blood Sugar Level in two groups is given Graph 2.
The mean ± SD of serum Total Cholesterol in the control group was 185.3±13.7 and that of the test group was 252.8±35.7. The Fasting Total Cholesterol was found to be signi icantly higher in Hyperlipidemic population when compared to that of people with normal lipid pro ile. The graphical representation of Total Cholesterol level of two groups is plotted in Graph 3. The mean ± SD of Triglycerides in the control group was 103.7±17.1, and that of the test group was 143.9±38.2. The level of Triglycerides in fasting condition was found to be signi icantly higher in Hyperlipidemic population when compared to that of Normolipidemic group.

CONCLUSION
Serum Hs-CRP and Fasting Blood Sugar were signi icantly associated with Hyperlipidemia. The glucose is considered as source Triglycerides and by controlling blood sugar by a diet with minimal carbohydrate and medium intensity exercise would become practically useful to maintain good health. Low serum insulin level would de initely re lect the Hs-CRP level. However; the Sedentary lifestyle along with smoking and use of alcohol would make the cardiac health and Coronary arteries more complicated in the new era. The medication therapy is highly recommended in Hyperlipidemia patients with other comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and central obesity.