High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and biochemical parameters for prehypertension and prediabetes diagnosis

Context: Coronary atherosclerosis still presents one of the main causes of death. Efficacious prevention should focus on the early control of cardiovascular risk factors, including lipid profiles, which are unable early detect in subclinical cases. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) can prove to be an early cardiac risk predictor. Aims: 1) To compare hs-CRP levels between healthy volunteer with normal blood pressure and those with prehypertension, and 2) to use hs-CRP levels along with other risks to be a cardiac risk predictor. Setting and Design: This was a cross-sectional study for 6 months' duration from January to June 2013 at Kudjab Hospital located in Udon Thani province, Thailand. Materials and Methods: Forty (40) healthy volunteers with prehypertension and 40 volunteers with normal blood pressure were included in the study. Both groups were similar in age range and sex. Twelve-hour (12-h) fasting blood samples were collected from all the participants. Serum was assayed for hs-CRP and lipid profile. Results: All of parameters were statistically significant difference (P < 000.1). The hs-CRP level (6.27 +/- 7.8 mg/L) was elevated in the prehypertension group. The relative risk of hs-CRP for prehypertension was 6.3 with the odds ratio of 15.48, whereas the relative risk of lipid profiles for prehypertension prediction was only 1.28, with the odds ratio of 1.67. Statistical Analysis: SPSS version 11.0 using the unpaired t-test for comparing demographic data and blood parameters and risk prediction of hs-CRP and lipid profiles were calculated by relative risk with odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)]. Conclusions: Hs-CRP is an early cardiac risk predictor even with normal lipid profile, and can help measure additional risk especially subclinical people such as prehypertension.