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.
Nazmi
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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