Higher and increased concentration of hs-CRP within normal range can predict the incidence of metabolic syndrome in healthy men.

AIMS

To determine whether hs-CRP level and interval change of hs-CRP could predict the development of metabolic abnormalities in healthy subjects in a longitudinal study.

METHODS

A cohort of 3748 male who had normal hs-CRP level without evidence of any component of metabolic syndrome were studied. At each visit, hs-CRP level and metabolic abnormalities were measured. Interval change of hs-CRP for each subject was calculated. COX proportional hazard model and logistic regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

Cumulative incidence and incidence density of metabolic syndrome were 3.96% and 7.17 per 1000 person-year, respectively. Cumulative incidence of metabolic syndrome was significantly increased according to hs-CRP tertile level. This significance remained after adjusting age, smoking, drinking, and exercise. Although the hazard ratio of metabolic syndrome for incidence density was increased significantly as hs-CRP increased, such trend disappeared after adjusting for confounding variables. The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher (1.48 times) in the hs-CRP increased group than that in the decreased or unchanged group. This significance remained after controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSION

Relatively higher hs-CRP level within normal range may predict the increase of metabolic syndrome compared to lower hs-CRP. Increased hs-CRP level may increase the incidence of metabolic syndrome.