Singh TP et al. – A meta–analysis assessed the association between C–reactive protein (CRP) and major cardiovascular events in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. Findings suggest that high circulating CRP predicts major cardiovascular events in PAD patients.

Methods

• MEDLINE and the Cochrane library were screened to identify studies evaluating the association between CRP and major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac revascularization, and mortality).

Results

• 16 studies (N = 5041) were included in the systematic review and 8 in the meta–analyses.
• Higher CRP in PAD patients was associated with a greater risk of major cardiovascular events compared with those with lower CRP (hazard ratio [HR] 2.26, P<.001).
• HR for major cardiovascular events was 1.38 (P<.001) per unit increase in logeCRP.