Relationships between inflammation markers and the risk of hypertension in primary Sjögren’s syndrome: A retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Objectives The association of inflammation markers with hypertension (HTN) in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) remains controversial. We aimed to investigate whether inflammation markers are at increased risk of developing HTN in pSS patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study included pSS patients (n = 380) between May 2011 and May 2020 from the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of the potential inflammation markers for pSS-HTN. Subsequently, the dose–response relationships were also used. Results Out of 380 pSS patients, 171 (45%) developed HTN, and the median follow-up period was 4.16 years. Univariable Cox regression analysis showed that the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and neutrophils were significantly associated with the incident HTN (P < 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, this association between ESR (adjusted HR 1.017, 95%CI: 1.005–1.027, P = .003), neutrophils (adjusted HR 1.356, 95%CI: 1.113–1.653, P = .003), and HTN remained significant. The dose–effect relationship was also found between ESR, neutrophils, and HTN (P = .001). Conclusions Inflammation markers may play an important role in the incident HTN in pSS.