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Association between C-reactive protein and hypertension in healthy middle-aged men and women

Leonelo E Bautista1, John E Atwood, Patrick G O'Malley

  • 1Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA.

Coronary Artery Disease
|September 4, 2004
PubMed

Insights

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is linked to higher blood pressure in healthy middle-aged adults. Increased hs-CRP levels correlate with a greater likelihood of developing hypertension, indicating an independent association.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Research
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Inflammation Markers

Background:

  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key inflammatory marker associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
  • Understanding the relationship between CRP and blood pressure in healthy populations is crucial for early cardiovascular risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and blood pressure in a cohort of healthy, middle-aged individuals.
  • To determine if CRP is an independent predictor of elevated blood pressure.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 904 participants aged 39-50 years.
  • Participants were categorized into cases (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg) and controls.
  • Exposure was assessed by quintiles of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive trend was observed between increasing hs-CRP quintiles and elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  • Hypertension prevalence increased progressively across hs-CRP quintiles, from 8.9% in the lowest to 18.6% in the highest.
  • After adjusting for confounding factors, individuals in the highest hs-CRP quintile had 2.35 times greater odds of hypertension compared to the lowest quintile.

Conclusions:

  • Serum CRP demonstrates a continuous and independent association with elevated blood pressure in healthy middle-aged adults.
  • These findings suggest hs-CRP may serve as a valuable biomarker for identifying individuals at risk of hypertension.
Abstract

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