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C-reactive protein: adjunct to cardiovascular risk assessment

S Bahadursingh1, K Beharry, K Maharaj

  • 1The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. sarasvati_b@hotmail.com

The West Indian Medical Journal
|June 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) significantly increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Adding hs-CRP testing to lipid screening improves early detection and intervention for CVD prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Biomarkers in cardiovascular medicine
  • Inflammation and cardiovascular risk

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
  • Standard risk assessment often relies on lipid profiles and traditional risk factors.
  • The role of inflammation as a contributor to CVD pathogenesis is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if elevated plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.
  • To evaluate the added value of hs-CRP testing in conjunction with standard lipid screening for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Main Methods:

  • A hospital-based, retrospective case-control study was conducted.
  • Patients undergoing cardiovascular assessment or treatment were included.
  • Data on hs-CRP, cholesterol, demographics, and risk factors were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Elevated hs-CRP was associated with a 1.84-fold increased risk of CVD (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.00-3.38).
  • This association remained independent of other cardiovascular risk factors (p=0.058).
  • Combining high hs-CRP and high cholesterol significantly amplified CVD risk (OR 9.5) compared to high cholesterol alone (OR 6.0).

Conclusions:

  • Hs-CRP testing improves the clinical identification of individuals at high risk for cardiovascular events.
  • Incorporating hs-CRP into risk assessment facilitates earlier lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions.
  • Hs-CRP serves as a valuable inflammatory marker for enhanced cardiovascular risk stratification.
Abstract

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