title: Prevalence of low LDL-cholesterol levels and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in apparently healthy Korean adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) reported reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and low LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels treated with statins. The aims of this study were to determine the proportion of "JUPITER-eligible" Korean adults and to describe their characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As many as 15,154 subjects with serum LDL-C levels <130 mg/dL were selected among 28,851 middle-aged participants (men ≥ 50 years, women ≥ 60 years) who participated in a routine health check-up program. Among the participants with LDL-C less than 130 mg/dL, only 15% had CRP levels ≥2.0 mg/L (7.9% of original participants). Subjects were divided into four groups according to CRP levels (<0.5, ≥0.5 - <1.0, ≥1.0 - <2.0, and ≥2.0 mg/L). Mean HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 levels decreased significantly as the mean CRP values increased. The insulin and homeostasis model of insulin resistance was significantly different according to CRP quartile. The number of subjects with metabolic syndrome and its components increased significantly as the mean CRP values increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this Asian population, few individuals with low LDL-C levels had CRP levels ≥2.0 mg/L. Elevated CRP levels were associated with components of atherogenic dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Additional clinical trials should be designed and performed in different ethnic groups, as different CRP cut-off levels may be required in different ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. kcmd.sung@samsung.com
authors.forename: K-C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: E-J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Y-K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rosenson
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D002097:C-Reactive Protein