Change in renin, cardiovascular and inflammatory markers over three years in a black and white population: the SABPA study

BACKGROUND: To investigate if percentage change (%∆) in renin over a 3 year follow-up is associated with %∆ in cardiovascular and inflammatory markers in a low renin bi-ethnic group. METHODS: Blood pressure, active renin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels of 73 black and 81 white teachers were measured at baseline and after 3 years. RESULTS: In the black group, %∆ renin was inversely associated with %∆ systolic blood pressure (β = -0.27; p = 0.011). In the white group %∆ renin was inversely associated with %∆interleukin-6 (β = -0.24; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: These prospective results indicate that a decrease in renin over time is associated with an increase in blood pressure in a low renin black South African cohort.