CRP Predicts Heart Risk in Certain Women

A study has found that women with metabolic syndrome and the highest CRP (C-reactive protein) levels were 2.1 times more likely to have a cardiovascular event than those with the lowest levels. The study was reported in the January 28, 2003, issue of Circulation.

Metabolic syndrome is the clustering of three or more of five conditions: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high blood pressure, and high glucose. The condition is associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular risk.

The researchers examined data from 14,719 participants, excluding women receiving estrogen replacement therapy and diabetics. After eight years, the rate of cardiac events in women with metabolic syndrome and CRP levels above 3 mg/l was 5.9 per 1,000 people per year. For those with metabolic syndrome but with CRP levels less than 3 mg/l, the rate was 3.4.

"Now we have evidence that CRP also does a very good job of distinguishing lower, moderate, and higher risk, even among people with metabolic syndrome,” said lead author Paul M. Ridker, M.D., professor of medicine at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA, USA).