Relationship between serum C-reactive protein concentration and muscle strength, physical performance among the aged in Tianjin / 中华健康管理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and muscle strength, physical performance in the elderly. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hangu district of Tianjin from April to June in 2013. Totally 1 131 subjects aged 60 years or older completed the survey. Every subject filled out a standard questionnaire and underwent grip strength test, timed up and go test (TUGT). Serum CRP concentrations were determined using chemiluminescent immunoassay kits. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between CRP and muscle strength, physical performance. Results After adjustment for potential confounding factors including age, BMI, smoking status, drinking status, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anemia, cancer and physical activity, the multiple linear regression analysis suggested that CRP levels were inversely related to handgrip strength (β'=-0.11, P<0.01), and the logistic regression analysis showed that compared with subjects in the lowest quintile, the odds ratios and 95%confidence interval of higher quintile of CRP were 1.09 (0.50, 2.39) and 2.70 (1.34, 5.66) (Ptrend<0.05) in males. However, the relationship between CRP and muscle strength, physical performance was not statistically significant in females. Conclusions In males, higher serum CRP levels were independently correlated with lower muscle strength and poor physical performance in older adults. These results suggested that inflammation-signaling pathways may play an important role in the progression of sarcopenia.