Variations in population-based levels of C-reactive protein, cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality: an analysis of the relationship between C-reactive protein, Troponin-T, cardiovascular morbidity and death rates in an unselected population in Southwest Norway

Background: Large population-based studies link inflammation to the prospective development of cardiovascular events. We investigated the time-dependent associations between variations in infectious disease as reflected by alterations of C-reactive protein (CRP)-levels in the general population and the number of cardiovascular events and death rates.

Methods: Retrospectively, we studied CRP- and Troponin T (TNT) values drawn for any clinical reason, the number of cardiovascular events and the death rates in the population of Southern Rogaland, Norway over a 2 year period.

Results: The mean and the sum of CRP values per week were significantly correlated with the number of patients with a TNT> or =0.03 microg/l in the same week (R=0.42, R=0.43, respectively, p<0.001 for both analysis). Further, we found a significant correlation between the mean and the sum of CRP values per week and the number of patients admitted with a cardiovascular event 2 weeks later (R=0.20, R=0.26; p=0.047, p=0.009, respectively). The sum of CRP values per week was significantly correlated to the death rates in the following week (R=0.30, p=0.002).

Conclusions: These findings further support the hypothesis that inflammation assessed by CRP levels is linked to the prospective development of cardiovascular events and all cause mortality.