[Study on C-reactive protein and the risk factors of traditional coronary heart disease]

To ascertain the relationship between C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and risk factors of traditional coronary heart disease (CHD) in a sampled population from Jiangsu province of China.

Using data derived from a project on multiple metabolic disorders and metabolic syndrome in Jiangsu province, a cross-sectional study was carried out. Criteria was set as: CRP level categories from 1 to 2.99 mg/L, and greater than 3 mg/L, to explore the relationship between different category of CRP and risk factors of traditional coronary heart disease which would include body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol level, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, physical activity etc.

The attack rate of high CRP increased with the degree of risk factors related to traditional coronary heart disease. However, when hs-CRP fell between 1-2.99 mg/L, part of the traditional risk factors would display significance. Significance increased in high CRP related to grading was observed across the Framingham heart score (quintiles). Data from the logistic regression analysis showed that: when hs-CRP (> or =3 mg/L), the OR of BMI, TG, high blood pressure, HDL-C, cigarett smoking, blood glucose all appeared statistical significance whereas hs-CRP between 1-2.99 mg/L, the OR of trational CHD risk factors did not show statistical significance but 60.98% of the males and 59.02% of the females would have high hs-CRP incriminate traditional CHD risk factors.

As the close relationship between traditional CHD risk factors and hs-CRP was seen, the role of hs-CRP in estimating the risk of CHD was limited, despite the origin of data, either from clinical or from cohort study.