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High-sensitive C-reactive protein is associated with reduced lung function in young adults

Depts of ¹ Respiratory Diseases, ² Cardiology, and ⁵ Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, ⁴ Dept of Medicine, Svendborg Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark, ³ Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

CORRESPONDENCE: F. Rasmussen, Dept of Respiratory Diseases, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Fax: 45 65412728. E-mail: Finn.Rasmussen{at}dadlnet.dk

Keywords: Cohort studies, C-reactive protein, fitness, inflammation, lung function

Received: March 17, 2008
Accepted September 27, 2008

Systemic inflammation has been associated with reduced lung function. However, data on the interrelationships between lung function and inflammation are sparse, and it is not clear if low-grade inflammation leads to reduced lung function.

Associations between high-sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and spirometric lung function were assessed in a population-based cohort of 1,000 Danes aged 20 yrs.

In males, the average decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) in the highest CRP quintile was 23 mL·yr^–1 versus 1.6 mL·yr^–1 in the lowest quintile. In females, the average decline was 6.2 mL·yr^–1 in the highest CRP quintile versus an increase of 1.8 mL·yr^–1 in the lowest CRP quintile. In a multiple regression analysis adjusted for sex, body mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness, smoking, asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness and serum eosinophil cationic protein, higher levels of CRP at age 20 yrs were associated with a greater reduction in both FEV₁ and forced vital capacity between ages 20 and 29 yrs.

The findings show that higher levels of C-reactive protein in young adults are associated with subsequent decline in lung function, suggesting that low-grade systemic inflammation in young adulthood may lead to impaired lung function independently of the effects of smoking, obesity, cardiorespiratory fitness, asthma and eosinophilic inflammation.