C-reactive protein and cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes: high-sensitivity CRP testing can help assess risk for future cardiovascular disease events in this population.
Having both diabetes and an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level compounds one's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, for which people with diabetes are at particularly high risk. CRP is both a biomarker for infectious and noninfectious disorders associated with inflammation and a risk factor for such conditions. Many researchers now believe that the protein also plays a role in the disease processes. The American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently defined three cardiovascular risk categories relative to CRP levels. This article reviews the relevant literature and explores how CRP levels can be used in cardiovascular disease risk assessment, prevention, and treatment.
Xu
Yin
Y
University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, USA. yin.xu@uc.edu
Whitmer
Kyra
K
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein