1* Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
2 Assistant Professor and Head of Department, Cardiology, Abwa Medical College, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
4 Consultant Pathologist, THQ Hospital, Sadiqabad, Punjab, Pakistan
5 Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, and Director Student Affairs, Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
6 Senior Demonstrator, Department of Physiology, Faisalabad Medical University, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan; MBBS, MPhil Physiology
7 PhD Microbiology Scholar and Research Associate, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), University of Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
8 Senior Lecturer, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Background Subclinical microbial dysbiosis and chronic low-grade infections have recently emerged as important contributors to systemic inflammation, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease progression. A disruption in the balance of gut microbes can affect inflammation, metabolism and blood vessel function, especially in urban dwellers who are more likely to have sedentary lifestyles and poor diets. Objective To assess the relationship between subclinical microbial dysbiosis, chronic low-level infections and systemic inflammation, autonomic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in adults in a community-based population in the urban area. Methods This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to September 2025 at the Department of Public Health, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan, in collaboration with Abwa Medical College, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 130 participants aged 25–70 years were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Demographic and anthropometric data, inflammatory markers, parameters of the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular risk markers were measured. The presence of microbial dysbiosis in stool samples was analyzed. ECG recordings were used to assess HRV. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 26.0 and difference at p. .
Keywords: microbial dysbiosis, systemic inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, cardiovascular risk, gut microbiota, chronic low-grade infection .
How to cite this article: Waheed N, Hussain M, Zia A, Abbasi S, Saeed R, Hannan I, Mujahid AY, Gul S. Role of Subclinical Microbial Dysbiosis and Chronic Low-Grade Infections in Systemic Inflammation, Autonomic Dysfunction, and Cardiovascular Risk in an Urban Community-Based Population. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(51s): 129. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.51s.13
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None.