title: Increased waist circumference is the component of metabolic syndrome the most strongly associated with elevated C-reactive protein in elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome is associated with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels, a common biological marker of inflammation. However, the respective contribution of each component of metabolic syndrome to the inflammation has not been established. The aim of the present study was to assess the strength of the association between metabolic syndrome components and CRP in elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, cross-sectional study on 921 volunteers (65.6 ± 0.8 years old) from the PROOF (PROgnostic indicator OF cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events) Study. Anthropometric, biological, and clinical parameters were evaluated. Subjects with a CRP value less than 10 mg/L were considered. The relationships between the metabolic syndrome components and CRP tertiles were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for gender and for body mass index, metabolic syndrome and high-CRP tertile were significantly associated [odds ratio (OR)=2.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-3.87, P<0.001]. Waist circumference demonstrated the strongest association with the high-CRP tertile (OR=1.75, 95% CI 1.05-2.91, P<0.05). In addition, CRP levels significantly increased with the number of metabolic syndrome components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among metabolic syndrome components, waist circumference showed the strongest association with the high-CRP tertile in elderly subjects. These findings help to explain the strong association between waist circumference and cardiovascular morbidity.
authors: Clinical and Exercise Physiology Laboratory, University Hospital and Jean Monnet University, PRES University of Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors: Hourfil-Gabin Ntougou
authors: HG
authors: Assoumou
authors: Jean Claude
authors: JC
authors: Barthelemy
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Garet
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Dauphinot
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Celle
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Pichot
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Kossovsky
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Gaspoz
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Roche
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein