Reference value for high-sensitivity c-reactive protein in the northern pakistani population

ABSTRACT

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hS-CRP] is an acute phase protein that is often used for the risk estimation of cardiovascular diseases. Objective was to find out the reference range of hS-CRP in the healthy adult northern Pakistani population and compare the distribution in relation with age, gender, body mass index [BMI], ethnicity and smoking. Cross-sectional study. Army Medical College Rawalpindi from Nov 2007 - Mar 2009 In this cross-sectional study a total of 297 healthy adults [>18 years] comprising 207 males, 90 females, Punjabis [n=178] and Pathans [n=119] were randomly included from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar and Sawabi Districts. History and clinical examination were carried out. Serum hS-CRP was analysed in Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Army Medical College Rawalpindi by two site sequential chemiluminiscent immunometric assay kit on immulite 1000 [USA]. Data were analysed by SPSS-16. The reference values for hS-CRP are presented as median [2.5 th - 97.5 th percentile]. In the healthy adult population of Northern Pakistan it was 1.84 mg/L [0.37-4.81] mg/l; in Punjabis 1.75 [0.30-4.65] mg/l and in Pathans 1.93 [0.50-5.30] mg/l. Females had higher hS-CRP levels 2.05 [0.53-5.66] mg/l as compared to the males 1.76 [0.31-5.06] mg/l. Smokers had relatively higher hS-CRP 1.98 mg/l [0.47-5.56] mg/l than non-smokers 1.68 mg/l [0.30-4.60]. Our data also revealed that hS-CRP had significant positive correlation with advancing age [r=0.20;p<0.05] and increasing BMI [r=0.29;p<0.01]. The reference range for hS-CRP in the population of Northern Pakistan is 0.37-4.81 mg/l. Pathans have higher hS-CRP levels than Punjabis. Demographic factors including age and BMI were positively correlated to the distribution of hS-CRP