High-Sensitivity C Reactive Protein : Associations with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Tracking in Female Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract EN

Objective.

We assessed adolescent anthropometry, lipids, insulin, glucose, and blood pressures to identify factors associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and its tracking in young adults.

Methods.

Ten-year prospective study of 589 schoolgirls, 321 black, 268 white.

Results.

HsCRP did not differ (P>.08) by race or oral contraceptive use.

HsCRP tracked from age 16 to 25 (r=0.77), 16 to 26 (r=0.50), 24 to 26 (r=0.66), and 25 to 26 (r=0.71), all P≤.02.

By stepwise regression, at age 16, waist circumference accounted for 44.8% of hsCRP variance; BMI accounted for 33.1%, 34.4%, and 31.1% at ages 24, 25, and 26, P<.0001 for all.

Changes in cholesterol and BMI were associated with change in hsCRP from age 24–26 (partial R2=12.3% P<.0001, 6.6% P=.0012).

Changes in BMI and triglyceride (partial R2=8.5% P=.0001, 3.3%, P=.0045) were associated with change in hsCRP from age 25 to 26.

Conclusions.

HsCRP tracks from age 16 to 26, with BMI, waist circumference, and cholesterol as major determinants.