The association of age, gender, body fatness and lifestyle factors with plasma C-reactive protein concentrations in older Taiwanese.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the population distribution of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and evaluated its association with age, body fatness status and lifestyle factors in elderly Taiwanese.


METHODS
A crosssectional-study.


METHODS
A population-representative sample. The "1999-2000 Elderly Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan".


METHODS
2432 non-institutionalized population-representative Taiwanese, 65 y or older.


METHODS
Plasma CRP-concentrations and factors that impact plasma CRP concentrations.


RESULTS
Results showed that weighting-adjusted plasma CRP concentration (mean +/- SE) was 2.50 +/- 0.10 mg/L for men and 2.70 +/- 0.10 mg/L for women. Cigarette smoking was positively associated with plasma CRP concentrations in both men and women. Age was positively (P < 0.05) but physical activity was negatively (P <0.05) associated with plasma CRP concentrations in men. These associations were not significant in women. Waist circumference but not BMI was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with plasma CRP in women. Both associations were not significant in men. Alcohol drinking and betel nut-chewing were not significantly associated with CRP concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that there are gender-related differences in the degree of association of CRP concentrations with age, waist circumference, BMI and physical activity in older Taiwanese. Results also suggest population-related differences in the strength of many associations when compared to observations made in Western countries. These findings may help delineate the differences in cardiovascular risk among various populations.
Tsai
A C
AC
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. atsai@umich.edu
Tsai
H J
HJ
D050154:Adiposity; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D013624:Taiwan; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein