Favorable Levels of All Major Cardiovascular Risk Factors at Younger Ages and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein 39 Years Later -The Chicago Healthy Aging Study.
OBJECTIVE
Examine associations of favorable levels of all cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) [i.e., low risk (LR)] at younger ages with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) at older ages.


METHODS
There were 1,324 participants ages 65-84 years with hs-CRP ≤ 10mg/l from the Chicago Healthy Aging Study (2007-2010), CVD RFs assessed at baseline (1967-73) and 39 years later. LR was defined as untreated blood pressure (BP) ≤120/≤80 mmHg, untreated serum total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, not smoking, no diabetes. Hs-CRP was natural log-transformed or dichotomized aselevated(≥3 mg/l or ≥2 mg/l) vs.otherwise.


RESULTS
With multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for follow-up hs-CRP ≥3 mg/ in participants with baseline 0RF, 1RF and 2+RFs compared to those with baseline LR were 1.35 (0.89-2.03), 1.61(1.08-2.40) and 1.69(1.04-2.75), respectively. There was also a graded, direct association across four categories of RF groups with follow-up hs-CRP levels (β coefficient/P-trend = 0.18/0.014). Associations were mainly due to baseline smoking and BMI, independent of 39-year change in BMI levels. Similar trends were observed in gender-specific analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
Favorable levels of all CVD RFs in younger age are associated with lower hs-CRP level in older age.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Thanh-Huyen T
TH
Vu
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Kiang
K
Liu
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL ; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Donald M
DM
Lloyd-Jones
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Jeremiah
J
Stamler
Institute for Minority Health Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Amber
A
Pirzada
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL ; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Sanjiv J
SJ
Shah
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL ; Institute for Minority Health Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Daniel B
DB
Garside
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL ; Institute for Minority Health Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Martha L
ML
Daviglus
C-reactive protein; aging; cardiovascular disease; inflammation; risk factors