C-reactive protein as a predictor for cardiac events in Chinese elderly patients with coronary heart disease

Background and objective To assess the predictive value of C-reactive protein(CRP) for major adverse cardiac events and the association between CRP level and the coronary lesion morphology and extent in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods CRP was measured on admission in 177 consecutive elderly (age>60 years) patients with CHD who underwent coronary angiography. Patients were divided into high CRP group (CRP>3mg/L) and normal CRP group (CRP <3mg/L). The association between CRP levels and the coronary lesion features, including severity of stenosis (mild, moderate, severe), extent of lesion (diffused or non-diffused), eccentricity of the plaque (eccentric or non-eccentric) were analyzed. Patients were followed up for a mean of 8 months for the occurrences of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results Compared with patients in normal CRP group, patients in high CRP group were more frequently to have unstable angina, multi-vessel, diffuse, eccentric lesions, positive remodeling, and non-smooth plaques (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed patients in high CRP group had a significantly lower MACE-free survival rate than patients in normal CRP group (Log-rank =12.0, /"<().01); Cox regression analysis indicated CRP level as an independent predictor for the occurrence of MACE (OR=3.16, P<0.05) Conclusions High CRP level is associated with more extend, severe and eccentric coronary lesions and is an independent predictor for MACE in elderly patients with CHD.