Variations in population-based levels of C-reactive protein, cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 140; no. 2; pp. 247 - 249
• Main Authors: Munk, Peter S, Melberg, Tor H, Skadberg, Oyvind, Kvaløy, Jan T, Larsen, Alf I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.04.2010
• Subjects: C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Infection; Inflammation; Mortality; Troponin-T; Infection; Cardiovascular disease; Troponin-T; Inflammation; C-reactive protein; Mortality
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.11.047

Abstract Background Large population-based studies link inflammation to the prospective development of cardiovascular events. We investigated the time-dependent associations between variations in infectious disease as reflected by alterations of C-reactive protein (CRP)-levels in the general population and the number of cardiovascular events and death rates. Methods Retrospectively, we studied CRP- and Troponin T (TNT) values drawn for any clinical reason, the number of cardiovascular events and the death rates in the population of Southern Rogaland, Norway over a 2 year period. Results The mean and the sum of CRP values per week were significantly correlated with the number of patients with a TNT ≥ 0.03 µg/l in the same week ( R = 0.42, R = 0.43, respectively, p < 0.001 for both analysis). Further, we found a significant correlation between the mean and the sum of CRP values per week and the number of patients admitted with a cardiovascular event 2 weeks later ( R = 0.20, R = 0.26; p = 0.047, p = 0.009, respectively). The sum of CRP values per week was significantly correlated to the death rates in the following week ( R = 0.30, p = 0.002). Conclusions These findings further support the hypothesis that inflammation assessed by CRP levels is linked to the prospective development of cardiovascular events and all cause mortality.