High White Cell count and hypertension

People with a high number of white blood cells (WBC) are at a high risk of developing hypertension, regardless of smoking and other cardiovascular risk factors. The proportion of white blood cells in the circulation can be used as an indicator of infection or inflammation. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Madison found that elevated WBC count is considered to be prospectively associated with cardiovascular diseases. Its relationship to hypertension, however, is not clear, especially among women. The researchers studied the link between an elevated WBC count and the development of high blood pressure in 2459 participants who started out not having hypertension. The team adjusted for smoking and various other potential risk factors. Analysis of the data demonstrated a significant association between increasing WBC count and increased risk of hypertension in the whole cohort. The pattern held true in both men and women, when smoking and other related factors were accounted for. The association between WBC count and hypertension among women was modest, but significant.