Key result
Uncontrolled non-HDL cholesterol is linked to ~352% higher odds of raised hs-CRP in stable CAD.
Why the study?
Data on the prevalence and risk determinants of raised high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease were limited.
Over 40% of stable CAD patients on secondary prevention have elevated hs-CRP, driven largely by modifiable factors such as BMI and non-HDL-C.
Introduction: Data on prevalence and risk determinants of raised high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) are limited. We report the prevalence and risk determinants of raised hs-CRP levels in patients with stable CAD on secondary preventive treatment. Materials and Methods: A tertiary care hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out in consecutive patients ( n = 353) with established CAD aged 18 years and above, who were under follow-up in the department of cardiology outdoor clinic. Assuming a prevalence of 40%, the required sample size was 344 to predict the prevalence of elevated hs-CRP levels. Demographic data, cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, health risk behavior, clinical characteristics, and drug history were recorded systematically. hs-CRP levels were measured using human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The data were analyzed using STATA version 13 statistical software. Results: Raised hs-CRP levels were found in 146 (41.4%) patients (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36.3–46.6). Independent determinants of raised hs-CRP level were body mass index (odds ratio: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03–1.19), uncontrolled non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 100 mg/dl (odds ratio: 4.52; 95% CI: 1.33–15.4), and male gender (odds ratio: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.21–5.18), respectively. Overweight/obesity, elevated non-HDL-C, and male gender together accounted for nearly 50% of the population-attributable risk for elevated hs-CRP levels in patients with stable CAD. Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for comprehensive CV risk assessment in stable CAD patients, beyond traditional lipid target achievement. Targeted interventions addressing modifiable factors such as weight management and non-HDL-C control may help reduce residual inflammatory risk.
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Bhardwaj et al. (2026) studied this question. Raised hs-CRP affected 41.4% of stable coronary artery disease patients, with uncontrolled non-HDL cholesterol (OR 4.52), male gender (OR 2.51), and BMI (OR 1.11) as independent predictors.
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