Association between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Older Adults: Findings from Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Ageing (NeLSA)

Objective: To evaluate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), components of the MetS as well as diabetes, and cardiovascular complications. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, the data were collected from the registration phase of Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Ageing (NeLSA) comprising a total of 6034 people aged 50 and older. Association between hsCRP and MetS and its components was conducted by univariate and multivariate analyses in the presence of covariates and confounding factors. Results: Baseline data including age, body fat mass, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, creatinine, albumin, and hsCRP also systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the MetS group compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all variables other than hsCRP, which was not significant (p = 0.06)). Also the univariate and multi variate analysis illustrated one-unit increase in the serum level of hsCRP was associated with 18% higher risk for diabetes [OR: 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06–1.30] and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 15% (OR:1.15; (95% CI, 1.01–1.29). In subjects with MetS, one-unit (log of 1 mg/L) increase in the serum level of hsCRP was associated with 34% higher risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (OR: 1.34; 95% CI, 1.11–1.63). Conclusions: There is an association between serum level of hsCRP and the presence of the components of MetS including HDL-C and diabetes, especially in women. (Clin Diabetol 2024; 13, 1: 52–59)