Correlates of C-reactive protein levels in young adults: a population-based cohort study of 3827 subjects in Brazil.
The socio-demographic, behavioral and anthropometric correlates of C-reactive protein levels were examined in a representative young adult Brazilian population. The 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study (Brazil) recruited over 99% of births in the city of Pelotas that year (N = 5914). Individuals belonging to the cohort have been prospectively followed up. In 2004-2005, 77.4% of the cohort was traced, members were interviewed and 3827 individuals donated blood. Analyses of the outcome were based on a conceptual model that differentiated confounders from potential mediators. The following independent variables were studied in relation to levels of C-reactive protein in sex-stratified analyses: skin color, age, family income, education, parity, body mass index, waist circumference, smoking, fat/fiber/alcohol intake, physical activity, and minor psychiatric disorder. Geometric mean (95% confidence interval) C-reactive protein levels for the 1919 males and 1908 females were 0.89 (0.84-0.94) and 1.96 mg/L (1.85-2.09), respectively. Pregnant women and those using oral contraceptive therapies presented the highest C-reactive protein levels and all sub-groups of women had higher levels than men (P < 0.001). Significant associations between C-reactive protein levels were observed with age, socioeconomic indicators, obesity status, smoking, fat and alcohol intake, and minor psychiatric disorder. Associations were stronger at higher levels of C-reactive protein and some associations were sex-specific. We conclude that both distal (socio-demographic) and proximal (anthropometric and behavioral) factors exert strong effects on C-reactive protein levels and that the former are mediated to some degree by the latter.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA. anazmi@gmail.com
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D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein