title: C-reactive protein levels in patients at cardiovascular risk: EURIKA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with high cardiovascular risk, and might identify patients who could benefit from more carefully adapted risk factor management. We have assessed the prevalence of elevated CRP levels in patients with one or more traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analysed from the European Study on Cardiovascular Risk Prevention and Management in Usual Daily Practice (EURIKA, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00882336), which included patients (aged ≥50 years) from 12 European countries with at least one traditional cardiovascular risk factor but no history of cardiovascular disease. Analysis was also carried out on the subset of patients without diabetes mellitus who were not receiving statin therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall population, CRP levels were positively correlated with body mass index and glycated haemoglobin levels, and were negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. CRP levels were also higher in women, those at higher traditionally estimated cardiovascular risk and those with greater numbers of metabolic syndrome markers. Among patients without diabetes mellitus who were not receiving statin therapy, approximately 30% had CRP levels ≥3 mg/L, and approximately 50% had CRP levels ≥2 mg/L, including those at intermediate levels of traditionally estimated cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRP levels are elevated in a large proportion of patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor, without diabetes mellitus who are not receiving statin therapy, suggesting a higher level of cardiovascular risk than predicted according to conventional risk estimation systems.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00882336.
authors.affiliation: Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK. j.p.j.halcox@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julian P J
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Halcox
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tubach
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Banegas
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: Eliseo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guallar
authors.forename: Ogün
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sazova
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Joep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perk
authors.forename: Philippe Gabriel
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Steg
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Artalejo
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human