Hs-CRP as an independent marker for cardiovascular diseases: A Correlation analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The advent of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) assays has enhanced
the utility of this acute-phase reactant in forecasting initial cardiovascular events. Elevated HsCRP levels are partially indicative of the extent of myocardial injury and can serve as predictors of both short-term and long-term outcomes in patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction. The study aims to investigate the relationship between elevated Hs-CRP levels and various traditional risk factors, including age, sex, lifestyle, and comorbidities.
Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study involving 123 patients with traditional risk factors and pre-existing cardiovascular conditions was conducted at a tertiary care center. Hs-CRP levels were measured using immunoturbidimetric methods, and statistical
correlations were performed. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21 software.
Results: Out of 123 patients, 82 had Hs-CRP levels exceeding 3 mg/L, while 41 patients had HsCRP levels below 3 mg/L. A total of 36.59% of the patients were in the age group of 51–60 years, with the majority (78.05%) being male. Among the individual lifestyle factors and traditional risk factors evaluated, five parameters—sedentary lifestyle, smoking, pre-existing hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and electrocardiographic changes—were found to be statistically significant. The correlation between elevated Hs-CRP levels and cardiovascular disease was also statistically significant.
Conclusion: Hs-CRP is an independent biomarker for cardiovascular disease, with a significant
positive correlation established between elevated Hs-CRP levels and major traditional risk factors such as sedentary lifestyle, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.