Association of serum high-sensitivity C reactive protein with risk of mortality in an Asian population: the Health Examinees cohort.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the association of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (<i>hs</i>CRP) with mortality risk and the attenuated effect of non-communicable disease history (NCD <i>_history</i> ) on the association. Prospective cohort study. Health Examinees cohort. A total of 41 070 men and 81 011 women aged ≥40 years were involved (follow-up: 6.8 years). Data and cause of death occurring until 31 December 2015 were confirmed by death statistics from the National Statistical Office. We conducted advanced analysis after stratification by NCD <i>_history</i> and sensitivity analysis after excluding death before 1 or 2 years from recruitment. Cox proportional hazard and restricted cubic spline models were used to assess the association. The association between serum <i>hs</i>CRP and risk of all-cause mortality was observed with strong linearity in both genders and was not influenced by NCD <i>_history</i> . The association of serum <i>hs</i>CRP with risk of cancer mortality was not observed in women with NCD <i>_history</i> , but the association with risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was predominantly observed in men with NCD <i>_history</i> . This study suggests a dose-response association of <i>hs</i>CRP with mortality risk, including cancer and CVD mortality, in Koreans with low serum <i>hs</i>CRP, although the association with cancer and CVD mortality risk could be influenced by gender and NCD <i>_history</i> .