Association of obesity with C reactive protein, total leukocyte count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Context: There is accumulating evidence implicating inflammation originating from adipose tissue as a potential pathway in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This study is performed to ascertain the association of 3 markers of inflammation, leukocyte count (TLC), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) with obesity in diabetics and compare with non-diabetics. Aims: To determine the association of CRP, TLC and ESR levels with obesity in persons with type 2 DM and non-diabetics. Settings and Design: 50 diabetics and 50 non-diabetic subjects were enrolled prospectively and anthropometric and laboratory data were collected and analysed in a tertiary care hospital. Methods and Material: CRP by latex agglutination test, TLC by Cell counter method (BC-5380), ESR by Westerngrens method. Statistical analysis: Pearsons correlation, Chi square and Fishers exact test -Mean, Standard deviation, Frequency and Percentage. Results: Mean FBS, PPBS, ESR, CRP, TLC, Body mass index (BMI), Waist hip ratio (WHR) were 100.5mg/dl, 112.34mg/dl, 7.02mm/hr, 1.86mg/L,6984cells/mcL,24.77kg/m²,0.88 respectively in non-diabetics and 190.88mg/dL, 275.58mg/dL, 21.56mm/hr, 3.91mg/L, 11760 cells/mcL, 25.86kg/m², 0.98 respectively in diabetics. All these parameters except BMI are significantly different between diabetics and non-diabetics with p value 0.05. Pearson correlation showed statistically significant association of inflammatory markers with WHR but not with BMI. Conclusions: Inflammatory markers like TLC, ESR and CRP are significantly elevated in patients with diabetes, suggesting the important role of inflammation, prompting need for interventions reducing inflammation in effective diabetes management. WHR is significantly associated with elevated inflammatory markers suggesting the role of abdominal obesity in diabetes.