Inflammatory Biomarkers as Predictors of Renal Dysfunction in Obese Hypertensive Patients: A Comprehensive Review with Special Reference to the North Indian Population

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a major global public health concern due to its increasing prevalence and strong association with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The burden of CKD is particularly amplified in individuals with obesity and hypertension, where complex metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms contribute to progressive renal damage. Bojan Stopic (2022) described CKD as a significant contributor to overall morbidity and emphasized its independent role in increasing cardiovascular risk, highlighting the need for early identification of predictive markers [1].

In recent years, inflammation has been recognized as a key pathophysiological link connecting obesity, hypertension, and renal dysfunction. Traditional diagnostic tools such as serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are limited in detecting early renal injury, thereby necessitating the identification of more sensitive biomarkers. Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and emerging biomarkers like kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and YKL-40 have demonstrated potential in early prediction and monitoring of renal dysfunction.

This review aims to comprehensively analyze the role of inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of renal dysfunction in obese hypertensive patients, with a special emphasis on the North Indian population where epidemiological transitions are rapidly increasing disease burden. Understanding these biomarkers may facilitate early diagnosis, risk stratification, and improved therapeutic interventions.