# Metabolic syndrome, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the risk of heart failure: the Kailuan cohort study

## TL;DR

This study finds that combining metabolic syndrome with high inflammation increases heart failure risk, especially in younger people.

## Contribution

The study reveals the combined effect of metabolic syndrome and elevated hs-CRP on heart failure risk in a large Chinese cohort.

## Key findings

- Participants with both metabolic syndrome and high hs-CRP had the highest heart failure incidence rate (5.33/1000pys).
- The risk of heart failure was 1.85 times higher in the MetS+CRP+ group compared to the MetS-CRP- group.
- Younger participants (<60 years) with MetS+CRP+ had a 2.17-fold higher risk of heart failure compared to the MetS-CRP- group.

## Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) have been identified as risk factors for heart failure (HF) in some studies. However, little was known about the co-exposure of MetS and inflammation to HF. We aimed to investigate the combined effect of MetS and high hs-CRP levels on the risk of incident HF.

The study included 94,841 participants without HF selected from the Kailuan cohort in 2006 (the baseline) and then followed up until 31 December 2020. Participants were divided into four groups based on the presence of MetS and high hs-CRP levels (>3mg/L) at baseline: MetS-CRP- (n=53,937), MetS-CRP+ (n=10,338), MetS+CRP- (n=23,521), MetS+CRP+ (n=7,045). Cox regression models were used to analyze the association of MetS and inflammation with the risk of HF. Statistical significance was defined as a two-tailed P value < 0.05.

The mean age of the participants was 51.5 ± 12.5 years, and 75,976 (80.0%) were male. During 13.1 years of follow-up, 3,058 participants were diagnosed with HF. The HF incidence rate of four groups were 1.69/1000pys, 2.95/1000pys, 3.27/1000pys, 5.33/1000pys. The HR for MetS-CRP+, MetS+CRP-, and MetS+CRP+ were 1.29 (95% CI, 1.15-1.45), 1.40 (95% CI, 1.29-1.53), and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.65-2.06), respectively, compared with MetS-CRP-. After stratification by age (p for interaction < 0.01), compared with the MetS-CRP- group, the HR of the MetS+CRP+ group was 2.17 (95% CI, 1.83-2.57) in participants with < 60 years and 1.53 (95% CI, 1.32-1.78) in participants with ≥ 60 years. There was an interaction between groups and ues of antihypertension medication (p for interaction <0.01). Compared with MetS-CRP-, the risk of HF in the MetS+CRP+ group was increased 1.38-fold (95% CI, 1.12-1.70) in participants with antihypertension medication use and 2.00-fold (95% CI, 1.75-2.27) in participants without antihypertension medication use.

The combination of MetS and elevated hs-CRP was associated with increased risk of HF in the Chinese population.

https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR-TNRC-11001489.