Evaluating C-Reactive Protein Associated Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study examines the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in 293 patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from the Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs Center (RISN Center). Baseline CRP values were gathered from EMR and evaluated for CVD risk. ASD patients have increased prevalence of CVD risk factors, and the literature demonstrates a strong relationship between CRP and CVD risk in this population. Patients were stratified by severity of ASD to investigate potential differences. Severe limitations in EMR data and overall sample size limited the generalizability and significance of this study. Larger scale studies with ample serum CRP values are needed to adequately assess CVD risk in the RISN Center’s ASD patient population. Regular monitoring and evaluation of CRP levels in ASD patients could lead to better management of cardiovascular health in patients with ASD.