The bilirubin level is negatively correlated with the incidence of hypertension in normotensive Korean population.
Reactive oxygen species have been known to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Bilirubin, one of the metabolites of heme degraded by heme oxygenase, is a potent anti-oxidant. We verified the effect of serum bilirubin level on the incidence of hypertension in normotensive subjects. We grouped 1,208 normotensive subjects by the criterion of the highest quintile value of serum bilirubin, 1.1 mg/dL. The incidence of hypertension was higher in group 1 with bilirubin less than 1.1 mg/dL than in group 2 with bilirubin 1.1 mg/dL or more (186/908 vs. 43/300, p=0.018). The relative risk for hypertension was 0.71 (95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.99), p=0.048 in group 2 compared to group 1 by Cox's proportional hazard model. Among the groups stratified by gender, smoking, and liver function status, the group 2 showed a lower risk of hypertension in females and in non-smokers. In conclusion, a mild increase within the physiological range of serum bilirubin concentration was negatively correlated with the incidence of hypertension. The effect of bilirubin on the development of hypertension was more evident in females and in non-smokers.
Chin
Ho Jun
HJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National Univeristy College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Song
Young Rim
YR
Kim
Hyo Sang
HS
Park
Minseon
M
Yoon
Hyung Jin
HJ
Na
Ki Young
KY
Kim
Yonsu
Y
Chae
Dong-Wan
DW
Kim
Suhnggwon
S
D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000737:chemistry; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006418:Heme; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D001663:Bilirubin