C-reactive protein distribution and correlates among men and women with chronic coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND

C-reactive protein (CRP) elevated in inflammation is associated with atherosclerotic disease. We describe the distribution of CRP and its association with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in a large CHD patient group.

METHODS

This analysis comprises 2,723 male and 256 female CHD patients, included in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) study. High sensitive CRP levels were determined in frozen plasma samples.

RESULTS

CRP distribution, was normalized upon log transformation. Levels among women were higher than in men in the entire group (4.4 vs. 3.5 mg/l) and in each age group. Co-morbidities, smoking, lower education level, and use of cardiovascular drugs, were associated with elevated CRP levels in both sexes. The correlation between CRP and body mass index (BMI), insulin and glucose was stronger among women. The explained variability in CRP level was larger in women (20%) compared to men (13%). Among women, BMI explained 10% of CRP variability, whereas the contribution of each variable among men was significantly smaller.

CONCLUSIONS

Among men and women with CHD, CRP level was correlated with traditional risk factors and to a lesser degree to manifestation of CHD. BMI is the main contributor to CRP variability, explained by these factors among women.