Abstract
To compare high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) as a predictor of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for age, smoking, and other confounding covariates and areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of hs-CRP and WBC for developing MetS were calculated in 1,463 men and 920 women from a Japanese health screening population who were free from MetS, diabetes, histories of coronary heart disease, and stroke at baseline and followed through 3 years. The adjusted HRs (95% confidence interval—CI; p value) of MetS for each 1 SD increases in log hs-CRP, and log WBC were 1.345 (1.166–1.553; <0.001) and 1.406 (1.188–1.664; <0.001), respectively, in men and 1.388 (1.110–1.736; 0.004) and 1.358 (1.072–1.721; 0.011), respectively, in women. However, the HRs became nonsignificant after further adjusted for the components of MetS. The AUCs (95% CI; p value) of hs-CRP and WBC for predicting MetS were 0.616 (0.573–0.660; <0.001) and 0.613 (0.566–0.659; <0.001), respectively, in men and 0.636 (0.573–0.698; <0.001) and 0.606 (0.538–0.673; 0.003), respectively, in women. Hs-CRP and WBC equally predict development of MetS, but both are poor predictors of MetS in a Japanese health screening population where obesity is not prevailing.
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The author thanks all subjects who participated in the study, the paramedical staff at our center who assisted with the study and Honorary Prof. Yoshifusa Aizawa at Tachikawa Medical Center for his instructive comments.
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Communicated by Massimo Federici.
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Oda, E. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and white blood cell count equally predict development of the metabolic syndrome in a Japanese health screening population. Acta Diabetol 50, 633–638 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-013-0477-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-013-0477-7