C-reactive protein: an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal Australians.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the independent contribution of C-reactive protein to the risk of cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal Australians.


METHODS
High sensitivity CRP levels were measured in 705 Aboriginal participants aged 20-74 years free from CVD at baseline. Participants were followed for a median of 11 years. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association of CRP with the risk of developing CVD events.


RESULTS
A total of 114 participants were diagnosed with CVD. Incidence rates were 5.4 and 21.4 per 1,000 person-years for the lower (<3 mg/l) and the higher (>or=3 mg/l) CRP groups, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, BMI and waist circumference, the association between CRP and CVD remained significant, with a hazard ratio of 2.40 (95% CI: 1.25, 4.62) for the higher CRP group relative to the lower CRP group. The population attributable risk was 52% (95% CI: 14%, 74%).


CONCLUSIONS
CRP is an independent predictor of CVD in Aboriginal people. A large proportion of CVD cases are associated with elevated CRP levels. Therefore, controlling the conditions that cause inflammation may be beneficial to cardiovascular health in Aboriginal communities.
Wang
Zhiqiang
Z
School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Qld 4029. z.wang@uq.edu.au
Hoy
Wendy E
WE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
D002097:C-Reactive Protein