ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome has been known as the cluster of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity. There have been many studies about the inflammatory role in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, also. We aimed to elucidate the role of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a inflammation-related factor in metabolic syndrome in Korean adults by correlation and factor analysis. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out in 1,512 men and 1,836 women (over 20 years old) who had an examination at a center for health promotion of an university hospital from May 2004 through March 2005. The NCEP-ATP III definition and Asian-Pacific adjusted criteria were used to obtain the metabolic syndrome group. And we evaluated the role and gender difference of hs-CRP in metabolic syndrome by correlation and factor analysis. RESULTS: In women, hs-CRP was statistically correlated with most metabolic variables, especially insulin resistance. In factor analysis, 3 factors (obesity, blood pressure, and insulin resistance) were obtained in men and 4 factors (obesity, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia) in women, respectively. In women, hs-CRP was a part of dyslipidemia factor. CONCLUSION: In factor anaylsis of metabolic syndrome factors with hs-CRP, hs-CRP was not a significant factor in men, but was included as a part of dyslipidemia factor in women.