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High sensitivity C-reactive protein as an independent risk factor for essential hypertension
Ki Chul Sung1, Jung Yul Suh, Bum Soo Kim
1Division of Cardiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. mdkcsung@samsung.co.kr
Insights
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are independently associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension in Korean adults. This finding suggests hs-CRP may be a significant risk factor for developing high blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant, is linked to reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation, a potential hypertension risk factor.
- The precise relationship between CRP and hypertension requires further elucidation.
- This study investigates the independent association between circulating CRP levels and essential hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess whether circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are independently related to essential hypertension.
- To evaluate the association between high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) and blood pressure (BP) in a large cohort.
- To identify CRP as a potential independent risk factor for hypertension development.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional survey of 8347 apparently healthy Korean individuals.
- Measurement of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) using nephelometry.
- Statistical analysis adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors including age, sex, BMI, and lipid profiles.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was observed between blood pressure (BP) and CRP levels (P <.0001).
- Hypertension prevalence was significantly higher in individuals within the second, third, and fourth CRP quartiles compared to the first quartile, even after adjustments.
- Adjusted odds ratios for hypertension were 1.267, 1.253, and 1.451 for the respective CRP quartiles.
Conclusions:
- Circulating CRP levels may serve as an independent risk factor for hypertension in the Korean population.
- The cross-sectional design necessitates confirmation through prospective cohort studies.
- Further research should explore CRP's role in hypertension prediction, diagnosis, and management.
Background:
C-reactive protein (CRP), one of the hepatic acute phase reactants, has been associated with decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation, a potential risk factor for hypertension. However, the relationship between CRP and hypertension has not been well elucidated. The aim of this study is to assess whether circulating levels of CRP are independently related to essential hypertension.
Methods:
We evaluated the relationship between high sensitivity CRP with blood pressure (BP) and several cardiovascular risk factors in a cross-sectional survey of 8347 apparently healthy Korean persons. The CRP was measured by nephelometry.
Results:
The subjects consisted of 4813 men and 3534 women, aged >/=20 years. Mean (SD) age and CRP level of the population were 47.1 (11.5) years and 1.12 (1.72) mg/L. Overall hypertension prevalence was 34%. There was a significant positive association between BP and the CRP level (P <.0001). After adjustment for age, sex, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, high-density lipoprotein, the prevalence of hypertension by CRP was 1.267 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.079-1.487, P =.004), 1.253 (95% CI 1.062-1.477, P =.007), and 1.451 (95% CI 1.231-1.711, P <.001) times higher in subjects in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of CRP, as compared to subjects in the first quartile.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that the CRP level may be an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension in Korean persons. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of our study, this finding should be confirmed in prospective cohort studies, aimed at elucidating the role of CRP in the prediction, diagnosis, and management of hypertension.