Effects of Low and High Doses of Aspirin on Inflammatory Markers in Diabesity Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 5; p. e60659
• Main Authors: Singh, Mridu, Kulshrestha, Rupita, Singh, Vikram, Pathak, Anumesh K, Kumar, Abhisek, Singh, Shivani, Bohra, Gopal K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 20.05.2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Aspirin; Automation; Body mass index; Cytokines; Diabetes; Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism; Enzymes; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Internal Medicine; Obesity; Overweight; Preventive Medicine; interleukin -6; type 2 diabetes mellitus; aspirin; diabesity; hs-crp; obese
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60659

Introduction The intertwined nature of obesity and diabetes, termed diabesity, is a significant health concern. Aspirin has been recognized for its potential in mitigating inflammation-related health issues, a key concern in managing diabesity. However, the optimal aspirin dosage and its impact on specific inflammatory markers, viz. high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6, over time remain a subject of ongoing research. Objective This study investigated the effects of different doses of aspirin (150mg and 300mg) on the levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 over a period of 6 months. Methods This cross-sectional observational quasi-experiment study involved 125 confirmed type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with obesity aged ≥40 years. Blood samples were collected for analyzing hs-CRP and IL-6 levels. Demographics and clinical characteristics, such as BMI, waist-hip ratio, blood parameters, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and hs-CRP, were analyzed. Results At baseline, both the 150 mg and 300 mg aspirin dose groups had similar median levels of hs-CRP. After two months, there was no significant difference (p=0.150). However, by six months, the 150mg dose group had a significantly higher median hs-CRP than the 300 mg dose group (p=0.003). The 150 mg dose group had a significantly higher median level of IL-6 levels at baseline (median; 40.0) compared to the 300 mg dose group (median; 2.27, p<0.0001). After two months, the levels of IL-6 in both groups were similar (median; 2.27 and 2.23 respectively, p<0.0001). By the end of six months, the groups had no significant difference (median; 0.53 and 2.22 respectively, p=0.128). Conclusion The dose of aspirin may significantly impact the levels of hs-CRP and IL-6 over time, with the effects being more pronounced after six months of treatment. These findings suggest that aspirin, a commonly used and cost-effective medication, could potentially be leveraged in a more targeted manner to manage inflammation (CRP and IL-6 levels) in individuals with diabesity.