Association between Serum Liver Enzymes and Hypertension: Findings from Shahedieh Yazd Cohort Study, Iran

Background: Hypertension, known as a silent killer, leads to various complications and may influence serum liver enzymes, potentially resulting in liver diseases. This study aims to investigate the relationship between hypertension and serum liver enzymes in Yazd, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the first phase of Shahedieh Yazd Cohort Study (2015–2016), including 9,550 individuals aged 35–70. Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression in STATA 17, with a significance level of P < 0.05. Result: Among 9,550 participants (mean age 49.68 ± 9.54, 50.02% male), hypertension prevalence was 7.53%. Hypertensive individuals showed significant differences in age, sex, education, smoking, diabetes, cardiac diseases, and cholesterol levels compared to normotensive individuals. However, no significant associations were found with fatty liver history, alcohol consumption, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT, also known as aspartate aminotransferase [AST]), or serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT, also known as alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) levels. Liver enzymes, including AST, ALT, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were significantly associated with hypertension, particularly in younger age groups. GGT was related to hypertension in individuals aged 30–39 and ≥50, while ALP showed an association only in those aged ≥ 60 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: A significant association between liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT) and hypertension was observed, especially in younger individuals. These findings suggest liver enzymes as potential hypertension indicators, emphasizing the need for early screening. Public health policies should incorporate liver function tests alongside hypertension management, particularly for younger populations.