C-reactive protein concentration distribution among US children and young adults: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2000

BACKGROUND: The distribution of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations among children and young adults in the US is not known at present. METHODS: We used data from 3348 US children and young adults 3-19 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2000, to describe the distribution of CRP concentrations, based on results obtained with a high-sensitivity latex-enhanced turbidimetric assay. RESULTS: The range of CRP concentrations was 0.1-90.8 mg/L (mean, 1.6 mg/L; geometric mean, 0.5 mg/L; median, 0.4 mg/L). CRP concentrations increased with age. Females 16-19 years of age had higher concentrations than males in this age range (P = 0.003). Mexican Americans had the highest CRP concentrations among the three major race or ethnic groups (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, these data describe the CRP concentration distribution among US children and young adults, based on results obtained with a high-sensitivity assay.