Ethnicity and sex modify the association of serum c-reactive protein with microalbuminuria

Ethn Dis. 2008 Summer;18(3):324-9.

Abstract

Objectives: To study the association between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and urinary albumin excretion in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and to assess whether the association is modified by ethnicity, sex, or systolic blood pressure.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 6675 participants who were free from macroalbuminuria and clinical cardiovascular disease (mean age 62.1 years, 53% female; 39% White, 27% African American, 22% Hispanic, and 12% Chinese). Urinary albumin excretion was measured by spot urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Effect modifications were tested after adjusting for age, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin-receptor blocker, other antihypertensive drugs, estrogens, statins, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Results: The association between CRP and ACR was modified by ethnicity (P=.01) and sex (P<.001), but not by systolic blood pressure. After multivariate adjustment, the association remained in Chinese, African American, and Hispanic men and African American women (P<.02 for African American men, and P<.04 for the other subgroups).

Conclusions: The association between CRP and ACR was modified by ethnicity and sex; it was stronger in non-White men and African American women. These interactions have not been reported before, and future studies should consider them.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Albuminuria / blood*
  • Albuminuria / ethnology*
  • Albuminuria / physiopathology
  • Atherosclerosis / ethnology
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis / physiopathology
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • C-Reactive Protein