YKL-40 is a novel biomarker for predicting hypertension incidence among prehypertensive subjects: A population-based nested case-control study in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The previous study suggested that Human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (YKL-40) was positively associated with hypertension incidence in certain high-risk groups of hypertension. We aimed to investigate that whether YKL-40 is an effective biomarker for predicting hypertension incidence among prehypertensive subjects.

METHODS

In a 1:1 matched case-control study of 700 pairs with available YKL-40 levels nested in a prospective cohort of initially healthy Chinese subjects, 294 pairs additionally have matched baseline BP status (prehypertensive or normotensive). Multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses were used to calculate the odds ratios (95% confidential intervals) of hypertension associated with higher levels of YKL-40 in both prehypertensive and normotensive subgroups, respectively.

RESULTS

In the prehypertensive subgroup, the subjects in the highest quartile of plasma YKL-40 levels had a significantly higher risk of hypertension incidence, compared with those in the lowest quartile. The odds ratio (95% confidential intervals) is 2.01 (1.05-3.85). A positive association between YKL-40 levels and hypertension incidence was found (P for trend<0.05). However, this significant association was not observed in the normotensive subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher YKL-40 levels at baseline were positively associated with hypertension incidence among prehypertensive subjects. YKL-40 may represent a novel biomarker for predicting hypertension risk in prehypertension population.