title: Population-based study of high plasma C-reactive protein concentrations among the Inuit of Nunavik.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The shift away from traditional lifestyle in the Inuit population over the past few decades has been associated with an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure (BP) and diabetes. However, the impact of this transition on the pro-inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has not been documented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of elevated plasma hs-CRP concentrations in Inuit from Nunavik in the province of Quebec (Canada) and identify anthropometric, biochemical and lifestyle risk factors associated with elevated hs-CRP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-representative sample of 801 Inuit residents from 14 villages of Nunavik, aged between 18 and 74 years, was included in the analyses. Subjects participated in a clinical session and completed questionnaires on lifestyle. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for elevated hs-CRP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elevated plasma hs-CRP concentrations (≥ 2 mg/L) were present in 32.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.5-35.8) of the Inuit adult population and were more prevalent among women than among men (36.7% vs. 29.0%, p=0.007). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that every 1 mmHg increase in systolic BP was associated with a 3% increase in the odds of having hs-CRP concentrations ≥ 2 mg/L in the Inuit population (95% CI 1.01-1.04). The combination of older age (≥ 50 vs. <30 years) and elevated waist circumference (gender-specific cut-off values) in a multivariate logistic model was also associated with a 13.3-fold increase in the odds of having plasma hs-CRP concentrations ≥ 2 mg/L (95% CI 5.8-30.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that elevated hs-CRP is relatively prevalent among Inuit with values that are similar to those seen in Canadian Caucasian populations. Sex, age, waist circumference and systolic BP are major factors that increase the risk of this inflammatory phenotype among Inuit from Nunavik, despite their different lifestyle background compared with Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Eve
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Labonté
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.forename: Marie-Ludivine
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chateau-Degat
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D004930:Inuit / Q000235:genetics*; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Inuit; Nunavik; aging; prevalence; risk factors; sex; systolic blood pressure; waist circumference