Prevalence of high C-reactive protein in persons with serum lipid concentrations within recommended values.

BACKGROUND C-Reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be a strong predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) and is being considered in cardiovascular disease risk assessment. The number of normolipidemic individuals who are eligible for evaluation of CRP in overall CHD risk assessment is not known. METHODS We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and computed the prevalence of high CRP (>3 mg/L) among normolipidemic adults. We also computed the prevalence among individuals free of CHD and diabetes. In addition, we examined the prevalence stratified by body mass index. RESULTS The prevalence of high CRP among those with lipid concentrations within recommended values ranged from 28.8% to 35.3%, depending on the lipid fraction examined. Exclusion of individuals with CHD or diabetes and those with CRP concentrations >10 mg/L reduced the prevalence range (23.1-27.1%). Prevalence increased with increasing body mass index. CONCLUSIONS In 2000, approximately 12 million adults in the United States considered normolipidemic had high CRP concentrations. Additional studies to explore the role of CRP in cardiovascular disease risk assessment are needed.