C-reactive protein cardiovascular risk predictor in medical students

Abstract

For the usefulness of CRP as a prognostic of cardiovascular disease, so-called “ultrasensitive” methods are required, which can detect concentrations between 0.15 and 20 mg / L. The purpose of the study is to determine if the fourth, fifth and sixth year students of the Medical and Surgery career of the University Center of the East (CUNORI) have cardiovascular risk measurable by means of PCR-us. It is a cross-sectional analytical investigation with a random sample of 125 students from the last three years of the race, who underwent the PCR-us test to detect cardiovascular risk (CVR). Students who presented hsCRP greater than 1mg / L, were studied complementary to identify associated risk factors. 60% of students have moderate-high RCV according to CRP-us with 26% (moderate RCV) and 34% (high CVR). The associated risk factors in order of frequency are overweight / obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. There is a moderate relationship between overweight / obesity and CRP levels higher than 1 mg / L with an odds ratio of 0.98 (CI: 0.3907-2.4702), so that students are at moderate risk of cardiovascular disease. High levels of triglycerides and cholesterol have a moderate to low ratio. The academic years that presented higher high cardiovascular risk are fifth and sixth year with 12% and 14% respectively, compared to a 7% risk presented by the fourth year students. In general, students have moderate-high RCV in 60 (75) of the population and 40% (50) have low CVR; evidenced through the measurement of PCR-us.