title: Interrelationships of Sex, Physician-Diagnosed Arthritis, Chronic Inflammation, and Physical Functioning in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
abstract: Objective:To examine whether serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen were associated with total score on a validated 12-item physical functioning scale and whether the magnitude and direction of these associations differed according to sex and physician-diagnosed arthritis.Method:Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were conducted using a representative sample of 4,606 older adults, 60 years and older.Results:Linear models suggested that overall physical functioning was strongly and independently associated with CRP (adjusted β = +.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [+0.42, +0.94]) and fibrinogen (adjusted β = +1.66, 95% CI = [+0.89, +2.42]); these associations were modified by physician-diagnosed arthritis status, with strongest associations observed among individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or no arthritis and weakest association observed among those diagnosed with osteoarthritis.Conclusion:CRP and fibrinogen may be associated with poorer physical functioning in older adults, especially among those having rheumatoid arthritis or no arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA.
authors.forename: Hind A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Beydoun
authors.affiliation: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Archer
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zonderman
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Aging, NIA/NIH/IRP, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: May A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beydoun
keywords: C-reactive protein; fibrinogen; inflammation; physical functioning