High sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts the development of new carotid artery plaques in older persons

Molino-Lova, R.; Macchi, C.; Gori, A.M.; Marcucci, R.; Polcaro, P.; Cecchi, F.; Lauretani, F.; Bandinelli, S.; Abbate, R.; Beghi, E.; Guralnik, J.M.; Ferrucci, L.

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2010.02.003

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 21, Issue 10 , Pages 776-782, October 2011

High sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts the development of new carotid artery plaques in older persons

R. Molino-Lova
- Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
- Dept. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Massa, Italy
- Corresponding author. Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Via Imprunetana 124, 50020 Pozzolatico, Florence, Italy. Tel.: +39 055 2601 024; fax: +39 055 2601 256.
C. Macchi
- Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
- Dept. of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
A.M. Gori
- Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
- Dept. of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Centre for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies (DeNOTHE), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
R. Marcucci
- Dept. of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Centre for the Study at Molecular and Clinical Level of Chronic, Degenerative and Neoplastic Diseases to Develop Novel Therapies (DeNOTHE), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
P. Polcaro
- Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
F. Cecchi
- Dept. Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Don Gnocchi Foundation, Florence, Italy
F. Lauretani
- Tuscany Health Regional Agency, Florence, Italy
S. Bandinelli
- Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit, ASF, Florence, Italy
R. Abbate
- Dept. of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
E. Beghi
- Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Institute for Pharmacological Research Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
J.M. Guralnik
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
L. Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Clinical Research Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA

Received 4 November 2009; received in revised form 25 January 2010; accepted 1 February 2010. published online 31 May 2010.

Abstract

Background and Aim

Previous studies have shown that increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) predict cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes. Previous studies have also shown that increased levels of CRP are strong predictors of the progression of pre-existing carotid artery plaques. However, whether CRP is involved in the development of new plaques, that may or may not be associated with clinical events, in subjects with clean carotid arteries has been scarcely investigated.

Methods and Results

486 “InCHIANTI” Study participants (200 men and 286 women, 72% aged 65 years and over) free from carotid artery plaques at baseline, also underwent carotid artery scan three years later. We tested the association of baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers with the development of new carotid artery plaques. Older participants were significantly more likely to develop new plaques. Independent of age, the relative risks of developing new plaques associated with heavy smoking and family history of atherosclerosis were 1.7 (95%CI 1.5–1.9) and 1.9 (95%CI 1.2–3.1), respectively. Participants with high (>3 μg/mL) and moderate (≥1 and ≤3 μg/mL) CRP levels had a relative risk of 2.2 (95%CI 1.9–2.6) and 1.9 (95%CI 1.6–2.3) respectively, when compared with subjects with low (<1 μg/mL) CRP levels. Surprisingly, risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and overweight/obesity were not significant predictors of the development of new carotid artery plaques.