Association of High Levels of High-Sensitive C-Reactive Protein with Metabolic Syndrome- A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Elevated high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) might be associated with prolonged low inflammation stage like Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and also predicts onset of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Precise association of hsCRP with occurrence of MetS among Western part of India is less clear. Aim: To evaluate serum hsCRP level in MetS patients and its association with occurrence of MetS, components of MetS and demographic variables. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based cross- sectional study, carried out on 86 cases of MetS and 86 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls for a duration of 20 months in Grant Government Medical College and Associated Hospital, Mumbai. The detailed history including alcohol consumption and smoking, Waist Circumference (WC), Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressures (SBP, DBP) were taken from all the study participants. Diagnosis of MetS was done according to revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. About 5 mL venous blood was collected by venepuncture for measurement of hsCRP, Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), Triglyceride (TAG) and HDL-C. Chi-square test, unpaired t-test, one-way ANOVA and multivariate linear regression model were used for statistical analysis by using SPSS 16.0 software. The p-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Mean value of hsCRP was 4.97±1.48 mg/L and 2.99±1.20 mg/L in MetS cases and controls, respectively. The mean difference of hsCRP was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). The hsCRP level of >3.0 mg/L (OR= 5.8, CI=2.68- 13.5, p<0.001) and 1-3 mg/L (OR= 2.6, CI=1.24-6.19, p<0.01) were significantly associated with MetS. The hsCRP was significantly higher in older age groups (p<0.001), heavy alcohol use (p<0.01), WC (p<0.003) and FBG (p<0.03) in MetS cases. Serum hsCRP level was independently positively associated with age (β=0.26, p=0.01), WC (β=0.33, p=0.001) and FBG (β=0.25, p=0.02) in MetS cases. Conclusion: The hsCRP was significantly associated with MetS syndrome particularly in cases with high WC and fasting blood sugar.