title: C-reactive protein, frailty and overnight hospital admission in elderly individuals: A population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein (CRP), an important inflammatory biomarker, has been linked to various diseases (e.g., cardiovascular disease). Here, we aimed to investigate the associations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with frailty and overnight hospital admission in an elderly Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used cross-sectional data from 1478 participants (aged 70-84 years) who were randomly recruited from 31 villages in Jiang'an township, Rugao city, China. Frailty status was defined using a modified frailty phenotype. The number of overnight hospital admissions was ascertained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample mean age was 75.3 years, and 53.0% of participants were female (n=784). The mean level of hsCRP was 3.6 mg/L. From the low (hsCRP≤1.00 mg/L) to high hsCRP (hsCRP≥3.0mg/L) group, the proportion of overnight hospital admission increased linearly (8.7%, 10.6%, vs. 15.5%; P for trend=0.007). For frailty, the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 1.21 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.64) for participants in the intermediate hsCRP group and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.09) for participants in the high hsCRP group compared with those in the low hsCRP group. For overnight hospital admission, the corresponding ORs were 1.26 (95% CI: 0.72, 2.19) and 1.94 (95% CI: 1.08, 3.48), respectively. After adjustment for other covariates, the significance of these associations remained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated levels of hsCRP were associated with increased risks of frailty and overnight hospital admission among elderly individuals in Rugao. More public health concerns about inflammation and subsequent outcomes are needed to improve the quality of life in elderly populations.
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yinsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zuyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Zhengdong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jianming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xuejuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Rugao People's Hospital, Rugao 226500, Jiangsu, China. Electronic address: rgrykj@163.com.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Unit of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200433 Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xiaofengwang71@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: C-reactive protein; Frail elderly; Geriatric assessment; Hospitals; Inflammation