C-reactive protein: adjunct to cardiovascular risk assessment.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to investigate whether elevated plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels are independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to then assess the effectiveness of the addition of hs-CRP testing to cardiovascular risk assessment by standard lipid screening.


METHODS
A retrospective hospital-based case-control study was designed. All patients attending Cross Crossing Medical Centre (CCMC) for routine cardiovascular assessment or emergency treatment were included. Cases were defined as patients with a cardiovascular event and controls as those without an event. Data collected included blood measurements of hs-CRP and cholesterol, demographic data, drug and risk factor history.


RESULTS
Odds ratio of 1.84 (95% CI 1.00, 3.38) indicated that a patient with elevated hs-CRP is 1.84 times more at risk of CVD than one with normal hs-CRP. Additionally, the association between hs-CRP and CVD was found to be independent of the other risk factors (p = 0.058). Hs-CRP ranked fourth as an indicator of risk above smoking and diabetes, and patients with both high hs-CRP and high cholesterol (OR = 9.5) were 3.5 times more at risk of CVD than someone with high cholesterol alone (OR = 6.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Hs-CRP testing enhanced the clinical identification of patients at risk of cardiovascular events. It can therefore contribute to timely implementation of effective lifestyle modification and pharmaceutical intervention.
Bahadursingh
S
S
The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. sarasvati_b@hotmail.com
Beharry
K
K
Maharaj
K
K
Mootoo
C
C
Sharma
P
P
Singh
J
J
Teelucksingh
K
K
Tilluckdharry
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein