Distribution of C-reactive protein and its association with subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic postmenopausal Chinese women

Abstract

Substantial evidence shows that C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with atherosclerosis. However, data on the association between CRP and subclinical atherosclerosis are lacking in postmenopausal Chinese women. We aimed to describe the distribution of CRP and its association with metabolic syndrome (MS) and subclinical atherosclerosis in postmenopausal Chinese women in Hong Kong. Between 2002 and 2004, we recruited 518 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 64 years. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque (focal wall thickening ≥1.5 mm) using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Median CRP level was 1.00 mg/L. Women with MS had higher median CRP levels than those without MS (1.85 vs 0.80 mg/L, P < .05), and there was a modest trend toward increasing CRP levels with more metabolic components ( P for trend < .05). Adjusted for age, hormonal use, and lifestyle factors, women with CRP levels of 0.5 to less than 1.0 mg/L had significantly higher mean IMT compared with those with CRP levels of less than 0.5 mg/L (0.78 vs 0.74 mm, P < .05). Odds ratio for plaque was 1.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-3.50) for women with CRP levels of 1.0 to less than 3.0 mg/L compared with those with CRP levels of less than 0.5 mg/L. Further adjustment for MS eliminated the associations. C-reactive protein did not add prognostic value to MS in the prediction of subclinical atherosclerosis. Compared with women without MS and who had CRP levels of less than 3.0 mg/L, those with CRP of at least 3.0 mg/L alone had similar IMT levels (0.75 vs 0.74 mm) and prevalence of plaque (19.4% vs 20.0%). Similarly, women with MS and who had CRP levels of at least 3.0 mg/L had similar IMT levels (0.81 vs 0.81 mm) and prevalence of plaque (30.1% vs 29.7%) compared with those with MS alone. C-reactive protein was strongly associated with MS and its individual components. However, it is not an independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis in postmenopausal Chinese women.