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C-reactive protein concentration as a significant correlate for metabolic syndrome: a Chinese population-based study

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Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that chronic, low-grade inflammation may be a common soil involving the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular disease. We examined the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, an extensively studied biomarker of low-grade inflammation, and the MetS in a representative sample of Chinese adults in Taiwan. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 4234 subjects [mean (±SD) age, 47.1 (±18.2) years; 46.4 % males] who participated in a population-based survey on prevalences of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in Taiwan. CRP levels were measured by the immunoturbidimetric CRP-latex high-sensitivity assay. The MetS was defined by an unified criteria set by several major organizations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with logistic regression model. Overall, there were 938 subjects with MetS among 4,234 participants, resulting in a prevalence rate of 22.1 %. A significantly progressive increase in the prevalence of MetS across quartiles of CRP was observed (p for trend <0.001). Participants in the second, third, and upper quartiles of CRP had significantly higher risk of having MetS when compared with those in the lowest quartile [adjusted ORs (95 % CIs) were 2.18 (1.62–2.94), 4.39 (3.31–5.81), and 7.11 (5.39–9.38), respectively; p for trend <0.001]. Furthermore, there was a strong stepwise increase in CRP levels as the number of components of the MetS increased. The prevalence of MetS showed a graded increase according to CRP concentrations. The possible utility of CRP concentration as a marker for MetS risk awaits further evaluation in prospective studies.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health (DOH95-HP-2103), Executive Yuan, Taiwan, ROC.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho University, Neipu, Pingtung County, Taiwan

    Tsan Yang

  2. Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Chi-Hong Chu

  3. School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Po-Chien Hsieh, Chih-Hsung Hsu & Yu-Ching Chou

  4. Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Shih-Hsien Yang

  5. School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan

    Chyi-Huey Bai

  6. Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan

    San-Lin You

  7. Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    Lee-Ching Hwang

  8. Graduate Institute of Health Care, Meiho University, Pingtung County, Taiwan

    Tieh-Chi Chung

  9. Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, No. 510, Zhongzheng Road, Xinjhuang District, New Taipei City, 24205, Taiwan, ROC

    Chien-An Sun

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  1. Tsan Yang
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Yang, T., Chu, CH., Hsieh, PC. et al. C-reactive protein concentration as a significant correlate for metabolic syndrome: a Chinese population-based study. Endocrine 43, 351–359 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-012-9743-7

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