Distribution of Serum C-Reactive Protein and Its Association with Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in a Japanese Population : Jichi Medical School Cohort Study

The distribution of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and their association with age, sex, and atherosclerotic risk factors were studied in a large Japanese population between 1992 and 1995. The subjects consisted of 2,275 males and 3,832 females aged 30 years and over. CRP was measured by nephelometry. The distribution of CRP was highly skewed toward a lower level than that of previous studies and seemed to be a combination of two separate distribution curves. The increase in CRP with age was statistically significant, and males had higher CRP levels than did females. Males who were current smokers had higher CRP levels than did nonsmokers. Age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and body mass index were all positively associated with CRP in both sexes, while total cholesterol and blood glucose were positively related in females only. High density lipoprotein cholesterol was inversely related in both sexes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, systolic pressure, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and body mass index were significant independent variables. In conclusion, the distribution of CRP among the Japanese was quite different from that among Westerners, although CRP levels correlated with other atherosclerotic risk factors, similar to those in Westerners.