Association of C-reactive protein with reduced forced vital capacity in a nonsmoking U.S. population with metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: A relationship between inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), and forced vital capacity (FVC) in diabetes or metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been established. We investigated whether high CRP is related to reduced FVC in MetS and diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined the association of MetS/diabetes and CRP (normal 3 mg/l) with predicted FVC in 4,272 nonsmoking U.S. adults aged 18-79 years without lung disease in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Logistic regression examined odds of FVC <80% by CRP and MetS/diabetes. RESULTS: Mean FVC in individuals with MetS and high CRP (95.7%) and those with diabetes and high CRP (93.7%) was lower than in those with no MetS/diabetes and normal CRP (101.7%) (P < 0.01) and was lower in those with MetS and high CRP (95.7%) than in those with MetS and normal CRP (98.5%) (P < 0.01). The odds ratio (95% CI) of FVC <80% was highest in individuals with MetS and high CRP (odds ratio 4.26 [95% CI 2.08-8.73], P < 0.01) compared with those with no MetS/diabetes and normal CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CRP is associated with lower FVC in people with MetS.

The metabolic syndrome in East Asians.

The metabolic syndrome is an emerging epidemic in developing nations, including East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. Studies examining the metabolic syndrome have used different definitions, with prevalence often highly dependent on the cut points for abdominal obesity utilized, which have been recommended by the International Diabetes Federation to be lower than standards used in Caucasians and other ethnic groups. Prevalence rates have generally varied from 8% to 13% in men and 2% to 18% in women, depending on ethnic group and definition used, and are consistently lower than most Western Caucasian populations. While recent dramatic changes in lifestyle from Westernization of dietary habits and reduced physical activity present challenges, an emphasis on healthful lifestyle changes remains the cornerstone for metabolic syndrome management. In addition, clinical management focusing on control of obesity, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, with consideration of pharmacologic therapy issues unique to certain Asian populations, remains important for reducing associated cardiometabolic risks.