Favorable levels of all major cardiovascular risk factors at younger ages and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein 39 years later — The Chicago Healthy Aging Study

OBJECTIVES: Examine associations of favorable levels of all cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) [i.e., low risk (LR)] at younger ages with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) at older ages. METHODS: There were 1324 participants ages 65–84 years with hs-CRP ≤ 10 mg/L from the Chicago Healthy Aging Study (2007–2010), and CVD RFs assessed at baseline (1967–73) and 39 years later. LR was defined as untreated blood pressure (BP) ≤ 120/≤ 80 mm Hg, untreated serum total cholesterol < 200 mg/dL, body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m(2), not smoking, and no diabetes. Hs-CRP was natural log-transformed or dichotomized as elevated (≥ 3 mg/L or ≥ 2 mg/L) vs. otherwise. RESULTS: With multivariable adjustment, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for follow-up hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/in participants with baseline 0 RF, 1 RF and 2 + RFs compared to those with baseline LR were 1.35 (0.89–2.03), 1.61 (1.08–2.40) and 1.69 (1.04–2.75), respectively. There was also a graded, direct association across four categories of RF groups with follow-up hs-CRP levels (β coefficient/P-trend = 0.18/0.014). Associations were mainly due to baseline smoking and BMI, independent of 39-year change in BMI levels. Similar trends were observed in gender-specific analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable levels of all CVD RFs in younger age are associated with lower hs-CRP level in older age.