C-Reactive Protein and the Framingham Risk Score

Results of a study of Framingham Heart Study offspring suggest that CRP testing is useful for fine-tuning of risk.

For decades, we have used risk factors such as age and blood pressure to predict future coronary and cardiovascular disease. To evaluate the potential benefit of adding circulating levels of C-reactive protein and homocysteine to the equations used to calculate the Framingham Risk Score, investigators analyzed data on 3006 participants in the Framingham Offspring Study (mean age, approximately 46; <5% with diabetes). At baseline (the second clinical visit of the study), mean CRP was 2.67 mg/L in men and 2.28 mg/L in women.

During 12-year follow-up, 129 hard coronary heart disease events and 286 total CVD events occurred. The hazard ratio for the association of log(CRP) with CHD events was 1.52 after adjustment for age and sex and 1.34 after …

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute