Systemic Immune-inflammation Index as a Marker for Asymptomatic Organ Damage in Newly Diagnosed Hypertension - A...

Systemic inflammation contributes to hypertension-mediated organ damage. The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), derived from peripheral blood counts, has emerged as a potential marker, but data in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve hypertensive patients in India are limited.

To evaluate the association between SII and the presence and severity of asymptomatic organ damage (AOD) in newly diagnosed hypertension.

This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center over 2 years. Sixty-six adults with newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve hypertension were included. SII was calculated as platelet count × neutrophil count/lymphocyte count. AOD was assessed using urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, left ventricular mass index, carotid intima-media thickness, and fundus examination. Organ damage severity was graded by the number of organs involved. Correlation and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed.

The mean age was 51.88 ± 12.1 years and 54.5% were male. AOD was present in 90.9% of patients. Median SII values were significantly higher in patients with renal involvement, left ventricular hypertrophy, increased carotid intima-media thickness, and hypertensive retinopathy (all P < 0.0001). SII increased progressively with higher AOD grades ( P < 0.0001) and showed significant positive correlations with urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, left ventricular mass index, and carotid intima-media thickness. The area under the curve for SII in detecting AOD was 0.812.

Higher SII was significantly associated with the presence and severity of AOD in newly diagnosed hypertension and may aid early risk stratification.