Background: Inflammation has been suugested to be associated with hypertension and type 2 diabetes; inflammation either precedes or is a consequence of the development of these diseases. This study sought to evaluate the role of inflammatory markers as cardiovascular risk factors and also determine their association with other potential risk factor variables among Ghanaian type 2 diabetes and hypertensive study participants undergoing medical care at the Battor Catholic Hospital in the Volta Region.

Methods: This hospital-based case-control study was conducted between December 2012 and February 2013, involving 125 participants with hypertension, type 2 diabetes or both. The control group consisted of 62 age-matched healthy individuals. Socio-demographic data was captured using a semi-structured questionnaire, anthropometric, haematological and biochemical variables were obtained using standard methods.

Results: The levels of inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, IL-6, ESR and WBC) with the exception of TNF-α were higher among the case participants compared to the controls. The case participants were more likely to cluster at higher quartiles of inflammatory biomarkers whilst the reverse was observed among the control group.

Conclusion: In this study among Ghanaians presenting with hypertension and type 2 diabetes,low-grade systemic inflammation in association with poor glycaemic control, haemodynamic dysregulation as well as disordered body fat distribution could be playing key roles in predisposing these individuals to future adverse cardiovascular outcomes.