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Association between asthma, asthma symptoms and C‐reactive protein in US adults: Data from the national health and nutrition examination survey, 1999–2002
Author(s) -
ARIF Ahmed A.,
DELCLOS George L.,
COLMERHAMOOD Jane
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2007.01122.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , national health and nutrition examination survey , quartile , odds ratio , wheeze , c reactive protein , confidence interval , inflammation , environmental health , population
Background and objectives: CRP is elevated in several inflammatory diseases; however, little is known about its association with asthma. Methods: The study evaluated the associations between CRP, asthma and asthma symptoms using data on 8020 adults ≥20 years of age from the latest US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: The prevalence estimates of current asthma, wheezing and nocturnal cough were 3.6% (95% CI: 2.9–4.4), 14.7% (95% CI: 13.7–15.8) and 4.6% (95% CI: 3.8–5.3), respectively. Geometric mean of CRP was 0.20 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.19–0.21). The majority of female (69.5%) respondents were in the fourth (highest) quartile of CRP. Mean CRP levels were significantly higher in non‐Hispanic blacks as compared with non‐Hispanic whites. The adjusted odds of current asthma and past asthma (as compared with no asthma) were 1.60 (95% CI: 1.02–2.53) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.07–1.91), respectively, greater in the fourth quartile of CRP. The adjusted odds of presence of both wheezing and nocturnal cough were 2.18 and 3.40 in the third and fourth quartile of CRP, respectively. Conclusions: This study shows that adults with asthma and asthma symptoms have higher levels of CRP. The potential use of CRP as a clinically useful marker for asthma severity and control should be further explored.