Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria in relation to fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose in a Chinese population

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and microalbuminuria are predictors of cardiovascular disease. The association of these factors of cardiovascular risk with fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose in a group of Chinese subjects was investigated. This was a cross-sectional cohort study. In 1776 subjects randomly selected from the permanent residents of a community in the city of Shanghai, China, a simplified 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (fasting and 2-h postload blood sampling only) was performed, and serum CRP concentrations and urinary albumin : creatinine ratio were measured. Serum CRP concentration significantly increased from 1.62 mg/l in normoglycaemic subjects to 2.63 mg/l in subjects with impaired glucose regulation, and to 3.09 mg/l in newly diagnosed diabetic patients (P < 0.0001). The corresponding prevalence of microalbuminuria also increased from 4.3% to 6.6% and to 11.4% (P < 0.0001). Both before and after adjustment for confounders, fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose levels were significantly associated with serum CRP concentration and the risk of microalbuminuria (P < 0.003). However, the association for CRP tended to be more prominent with 2-h postload plasma glucose than with fasting plasma glucose. Indeed, with adjustments applied, for 1 SD change in fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose concentration, serum CRP concentration increased by 14% and 18% (between the two regression coefficients, P = 0.01), respectively. With similar adjustments, for 1 SD change in fasting and 2-h postload plasma glucose concentration, the odds of microalbuminuria increased by 28% and 32% (P = 0.28 for the difference between 28% and 32%), respectively. Our finding suggests that in Chinese plasma glucose, especially 2-h postload, is associated with biological markers of cardiovascular disease, such as serum CRP concentration and microalbuminuria.