Association of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein with Metabolic Syndrome and Transitions in Metabolic Status: A...

To investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as its outcome development, and to evaluate its potential value as an early biomarker for MetS.

From August 2017 to December 2023, a total of 23,148 participants were enrolled from the Health Management Departments of five general tertiary hospitals in northern and southern China. Their basic demographic data, clinical information, and hs-CRP levels were collected. Among them, 531 participants who were free of MetS at baseline were followed up, and the incidence of MetS was analyzed at their second physical examination six years later. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the association between hs-CRP and the risk of prevalent and incident MetS.

The prevalence of MetS was 32.3%, significantly higher in males than females. MetS-positive individuals exhibited elevated hs-CRP levels and higher age, BMI, blood pressure, lipid, and glucose parameters. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hs-CRP was independently and positively associated with the risk of prevalent MetS in the overall population and in males. In females, this association was attenuated but remained statistically significant after adjusting for confounding factors. Among the 531 participants without MetS at baseline, 16.8% (89 individuals) developed new-onset MetS during the six-year follow-up period. Elevated baseline hs-CRP levels were significantly associated with the risk of incident MetS in males, but the association did not reach statistical significance in females.

Higher hs-CRP levels were associated with both prevalent and incident MetS in this Chinese adult population, with a stronger and more consistent association observed in males. These findings suggest that the relationship between inflammation and MetS may differ by gender. Given the observational design, further studies are needed to confirm these associations and explore underlying mechanisms.