Key result
In stable coronary artery disease, hs-CRP >3 mg/L was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15-2.02; P=0.003).
Why the study?
Do elevated hs-CRP levels predict adverse cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease?
RCT (n=3,771)
placebo-controlled
randomized
Do elevated hs-CRP levels predict adverse cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease?
In patients with stable coronary artery disease, elevated hs-CRP levels (>1 mg/L) independently predict adverse cardiovascular events, new heart failure, and new diabetes.
May support hs-CRP for risk stratification in stable CAD; leaves open whether targeting inflammation improves outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Data supporting the prognostic significance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are derived largely from individuals with no overt coronary artery disease or from patients with acute coronary syndromes. In contrast, the ability of hs-CRP to predict outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease and the prognostic significance of the Centers for Disease Control/American Heart Association hs-CRP cut points in such a population remain relatively unexplored. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured hs-CRP in 3771 patients with stable coronary artery disease from the Prevention of Events With Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition (PEACE) trial, a randomized placebo-controlled trial of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor trandolapril. Patients were followed up for a median of 4.8 years for cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, as well as new heart failure and diabetes. After adjustment for baseline characteristics and treatments, higher hs-CRP levels, even >1 mg/L, were associated with a significantly greater risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hs-CRP 1 to 3 mg/L: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.81; P=0.016; hs-CRP >3 mg/L: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.02; P=0.003). Similarly, elevated hs-CRP levels were an independent predictor of new heart failure (adjusted P<0.001 for trend) and new diabetes (adjusted P<0.001 for trend). There were no significant interactions between hs-CRP levels and the effects of trandolapril on any of the above outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In stable coronary artery disease, an elevated hs-CRP level, even >1 mg/L, is a significant predictor of adverse cardiovascular events independently of baseline characteristics and treatments. An elevated hs-CRP does not appear to identify patients with stable coronary artery disease and preserved ejection fraction who derive particular benefit from angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition.
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Sabatine et al. (2007) conducted an RCT in stable coronary artery disease (n=3,771). hs-CRP >3 mg/L vs. hs-CRP <1 mg/L was evaluated on cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.15-2.02, p=0.003). In stable coronary artery disease, hs-CRP >3 mg/L was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.15-2.02; P=0.003).
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