Effect of body mass index, physical activity, depression, and educational attainment on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with atrial fibrillation

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Inflammation Biology
• Public Health

Background:

• Atherosclerosis is a complex process potentially mediated by inflammation, indicated by elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
• Factors like obesity, physical activity, and depression are known to influence hs-CRP, but their relative importance is unclear.
• Understanding these predictors is crucial for managing subclinical coronary heart disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the relationship between various potential predictors and hs-CRP levels.
• To determine the relative importance of obesity, physical activity, and depression in predicting elevated hs-CRP.
• To identify key factors associated with inflammation in patients with subclinical coronary heart disease.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study with 289 patients selected for substudy analysis.
• Bivariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze predictors of hs-CRP.
• Analyses adjusted for potential confounders, examining obesity, physical activity, depression, and educational attainment.

Main Results:

• Obesity was identified as the greatest absolute predictor of elevated hs-CRP across all analyses.
• Vigorous physical activity and higher educational attainment (college/graduate degree) were associated with decreased hs-CRP.
• Depression was associated with increased hs-CRP in unadjusted analyses, but this association was not significant in multivariate models.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is the most significant predictor of elevated hs-CRP in patients with subclinical coronary heart disease.
• While physical activity and education play a role, their influence is less pronounced than that of obesity.
• Targeting obesity may be a primary strategy for reducing inflammation and managing cardiovascular risk.