Increased C-reactive protein associates with elevated carotid intima-media thickness in Chinese adults with normal low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Aim: we aimed to study the relationship of elevated c reactive protein (crp) levels (1.0-2.9 or ≥3.0 mg/l) with carotid intima-media thickness (imt) in chinese adults with normal low-density lipoprotein (ldl) cholesterol (<100 mg/dl). methods: cross-sectional analysis was performed using 2499 eligible subjects recruited from a single community in shanghai in 2008. these subjects were divided into three groups according to their serum crp levels (<1.0 mg/l,1.0-2.9 and ≥3.0 mg/l). imt was measured using a high-resolution tomographic ultrasound system. results: as compared to crp <1.0 mg/l (n = 1994),subjects with crp 1.0-2.9 (n = 265) and ≥3.0 mg/l (n = 240) were much older and had higher body mass index,waist circumference,systolic and diastolic blood pressure,hemoglobin a1c and serum triglycerides; imt was significantly elevated in crp ≥3.0 or 1.0-2.9 mg/l (0.66 or 0.65 vs 0.61 mm,p<0.0001). subjects with crp ≥3 mg/l were associated with 1.45-fold risk for elevated imt (≥0.7 mm) (95% confidence interval,1.02-2.06) after full adjustment. the association was more prominent in subjects with aged <60 (odds ratio (or) = 2.04; p = 0.04),in diabetic patients (or = 1.79; p = 0.04) and obese subjects (or = 1.55; p=0.006). conclusions: increased crp is associated with elevated imt in chinese adults with normal ldl. low-grade inflammation plays an independent and important role in atherosclerosis.