Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established marker of inflammation. According to previous studies, systemic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Therefore, this study aimed to compare serum levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) among individuals with varying ten-year ASCVD risk levels.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the PERSIAN Cohort Center in Sabzevar in 2022. Participants were categorized into four risk groups (low, borderline, intermediate, and high) based on their ten-year ASCVD risk, estimated using the ASCVD Risk Calculator developed by the American College of Cardiology. Serum hs-CRP concentrations were measured by sandwich ELISA, and serum levels were compared across risk groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Findings: Among 873 participants with a median age of 55 years (61.4% female), 587 individuals (67.2%) were classified as low risk, 86 (9.9%) as borderline, 172 (19.7%) as intermediate, and 28 (3.2%) as high ASCVD risk. No statistically significant differences were observed in mean serum hs-CRP levels across the different ASCVD risk groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Despite the well-established role of CRP in predicting cardiovascular disease risk, the present study found no significant differences in its serum levels across different ASCVD risk groups. These findings suggest that CRP alone may not be sufficient for precise risk assessment, and that simultaneous evaluation of other inflammatory markers could enhance the identification of high-risk individuals and support the development of more effective interventions.