Abstract
Although several levels of evidence have suggested an association between systemic inflammation and spirometric lung volumes, data addressing the potential interrelationship between airflow limitation and inflammatory markers are sparse and remain controversial.
Potential associations between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen and lung function were investigated in 1,466 individuals aged 25–85 yrs, representing a general population. Within this cross-sectional population, data on body plethysmography, spirometry, helium dilution and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL,CO) were analysed.
After adjustment for potential confounding factors, such as smoking, obesity and cardiorespiratory fitness, there was an inverse association of hsCRP with forced expiratory and static lung volumes. In neither apparently healthy nor the entire population was inflammation associated with airflow limitation in central airways. In smokers only, higher hsCRP and fibrinogen were associated with an impaired DL,CO.
This study shows that higher levels of hsCRP are associated with decreased lung volumes in a general population over a wide age range. A consistent interrelationship of central airflow limitation and inflammation was not verifiable. Smoking is related to an impaired DL,CO in association with an increase in systemic inflammation.
Footnotes
Support Statement
The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) is part of the Community Medicine Net of the University of Greifswald (Greifswald, Germany), which is funded by grants from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for SHIP (grants 01ZZ96030 and 01ZZ0701) and German Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Network (COSYCONET; BMBF grant 01GI0883), the Ministry for Education, Research, and Cultural Affairs, and the Ministry for Social Affairs of the Federal State of Mecklenburg–West Pomerania.
Statement of Interest
None declared.
- Received January 19, 2011.
- Accepted May 17, 2011.
- ©ERS 2012