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Chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction may be associated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We examined associations between inflammatory and endothelial dysfunction biomarkers and the risk of prehypertension among Mongolians. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2589 Mongolians aged 20 years and older in Inner Mongolia, China. Three blood pressure measurements, body weight, height and lifestyle factors were obtained for all participants. Overnight fasting blood samples were obtained to measure the biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and angiotensin II. The average levels of CRP (7.43 vs. 5.86), sICAM-1 (339.38 vs. 328.05), sE-selectin (19.11 vs. 18.32) and angiotensin II (52.00 vs. 47.00) were all significantly higher in hypertensives than that in prehypertensives (all P<0.05); prehypertensives had higher levels of CRP (5.86 vs. 4.85) and sICAM-1 (328.05 vs. 314.14) compared with normotensives (both P<0.05). Hypertension (odds ratio (OR): 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 2.11) and prehypertension (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.85) were positively and significantly associated with elevated CRP adjusted for multivariable. Hypertension (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.06) and prehypertension (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.71) were also positively and significantly associated with higher sICAM-1 adjusted for age and gender. Elevated CRP and sICAM-1 were associated with prehypertension among Mongolian population. This study suggests that inflammation and endothelial dysfunction may have a role in the development of hypertension.

Background: There is little knowledge on comparisons of cardiovascular risk factors between prehypertension and hypertension in Mongolian populations, Inner Mongolia, China., Methods and Results: A total of 2,589 Mongolians aged 20 years and over were recruited as study participants. Demographic data, lifestyle factors, family history of hypertension, blood pressure measurements, physical examination and blood samples were obtained and analyzed for all individuals. Prehypertensives and hypertensives accounted for 38.39% and 37.39%, respectively, in all participants. Multivariate logistic regression using proportional odds model showed that hypertension was significantly associated with age (odds ratio was 5.79, 8.84, 30.05 and 32.28 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively), family history of hypertension (7.12), alcohol drinking (2.03), overweight (4.69) and hyperlipidemia (3.49), and prehypertension significantly associated with age (3.65 for age 70-84), hyperlipidemia (1.80) in males. In females, hypertension was significantly associated with age (8.58, 14.40, 33.00, 63.67 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively), family history of hypertension (5.65), overweight (3.16) and high C-reactive protein (> or = 10.356 mg/L), and prehypertension significantly associated with age (1.72, 2.00, 2.74 and 6.67 for age 40-, 50-, 60- and 70-, respectively) and overweight (1.68)., Conclusions: Prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors and number of risk factors in hypertensives were higher than that in prehypertensives.