Original Article
International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 103–108. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803350; published online 9 May 2006
Differential association of C-reactive protein with adiposity in men and women in an Aboriginal community in northeast Arnhem Land of Australia
T Shemesh1,2, K G Rowley3, A Jenkins4, J Brimblecombe1,2, J D Best4 and K O'Dea1,4
- 1Menzies School of Health Research, Royal Darwin Hospital, Rocklands Drive Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
- 2Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- 3Onemda Vic Health Koori Health Unit, Centre for Health and Society, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- 4The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Correspondence: T Shemesh, The University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Clinical Sciences Building, Level 4, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. E-mail: tomers@medstv.unimelb.edu.au
Received 30 August 2005; Revised 10 February 2006; Accepted 15 March 2006; Published online 9 May 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
To examine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP), adiposity and other metabolic abnormalities in an Aboriginal community in Northern Australia.
Design:
Cross-sectional analysis of data obtained between 2001 and 2003 from 379 Aboriginal people residing in a geographically isolated community.
Results:
Mean (95% CI) CRP in women and men was 4.06 cholesterol (3.53, 4.66) mg/l and 3.42 (2.94, 3.97) mg/l, respectively (P=NS). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (US National Education program (NCEP) definition) was significantly higher for women than men (41 vs 18%, 
2=20.94, P<0.001). C-reactive protein correlated strongly with adiposity in women (waist circumference, waist to hip ratio and body mass index; r
0.514, P<0.01) but much less strongly in men (r
0.221, P<0.05). In a multivariate stepwise linear regression model, waist circumference was the strongest independent predictor explaining 35% of CRP concentration variance in women, but only 5.4% in men (WHR). Incremental increases in CRP concentration across four BMI categories were significant in women (P
linear trend<0.001) but not in men.
Conclusions:
High CRP levels in the surveyed population are consistent with the high prevalence of vascular disease morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal Australians. The relationship of CRP with increasing body fat was strong and consistent in women but not in men. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate the role of CRP (if any) as a predictive marker for cardiovascular events in this high-risk population.
Keywords:
aboriginal Australians, remoteness, C-reactive protein, metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease
Abbreviations:
CVD, cardiovascular disease; CRP, C-reactive protein; IL, interleukin; BMI, body mass index; AHA, American Heart Association; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; NCEP, US National Cholesterol Education Program; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; ACR, urine albumin to creatinine ratio; CI, confidence intervals; r, correlation coefficient; WHR, waist to hip ratio; HOMA, Homeostasis model assessment; HREC, Human Research Ethics Committee; s.e.m., standard error of the mean; CHD, coronary heart disease.
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