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Body composition, C-reactive protein, carotid artery remodeling and subclinical atherosclerosis in a general Taiwanese population

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Abstract

Obesity, an escalating problem worldwide, increases the risk of serious disease, particularly atherosclerosis. A community-based cross-sectional study was designed to screen for undetected atherosclerosis. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), and ultrasound studies to detect fatty liver and measure carotid intimal–medial thickness were performed. A total of 1,005 subjects (595 men and 410 women; mean age of 52.4 ± 11.1 years) were included in the final study cohort. 237 subjects (23.7%) fulfilled National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel ATP-III criteria for MetS. Significant differences between female and male subjects were noted in body mass index (BMI), % body fat mass (Fat%), waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, fasting glucose levels, triglyceride levels, fatty liver, and carotid artery changes (P < 0.05). When female subjects were classified by hs-CRP levels, significant differences were reported among the three groups in age, BMI, Fat%, waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HDL, triglycerides, fatty liver grade and common carotid artery changes (P < 0.05). In this study, high hs-CRP was associated with increased cholesterol and cardiovascular changes supporting the idea that it may be a useful biomarker for detecting early asymptomatic vascular and coronary heart disease resulting from obesity.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Chung-Shan North Road, 2nd Section, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jui-Peng Tsai, Chih-Hsuan Yen, Charles Jia-Yin Hou, Jen-Yuan Kuo & Chung-Lieh Hung

  2. Department of Health Industry Management, Kainan University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Jui-Peng Tsai, Chih-Hsuan Yen, Charles Jia-Yin Hou, Jen-Yuan Kuo & Chung-Lieh Hung

  3. Department of Neurology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Helen L. Po

  4. Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jui-Peng Tsai, Chih-Hsuan Yen, Charles Jia-Yin Hou, Jen-Yuan Kuo & Chung-Lieh Hung

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  1. Jui-Peng Tsai
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  2. Helen L. Po
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  3. Chih-Hsuan Yen
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  4. Charles Jia-Yin Hou
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  5. Jen-Yuan Kuo
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  6. Chung-Lieh Hung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chung-Lieh Hung.

Additional information

Jui-Peng Tsai and Helen L. Po are contributed to this work equally.

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Tsai, JP., Po, H.L., Yen, CH. et al. Body composition, C-reactive protein, carotid artery remodeling and subclinical atherosclerosis in a general Taiwanese population. J Thromb Thrombolysis 33, 185–192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-011-0669-3

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