RESUMEN
Background Metabolic syndrome is defined by a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with a heightened inflammatory state. A raised serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, is also known to associate with cardiovascular risk. We have investigated the relationship between the presence of metabolic syndrome and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration in a large representative Persian population cohort without a history of cardiovascular disease. Methods The MASHAD study population cohort comprised 9778 subjects, who were recruited from the city of Mashhad, Iran, between 2007 and 2008. Several cardiovascular risk factors were measured in this population without cardiovascular disease. Individuals were categorized into quartiles of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration: first quartile - 0.72 (0.59-0.85) (median [range]) mg/L, second quartile - 1.30 (1.14-1.4) mg/L, third quartile - 2.29 (1.92-2.81) mg/L and fourth quartile - 6.63 (4.61-11.95) mg/L, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in each quartile was determined using either International Diabetes Federation or Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was highest in the fourth quartile for serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (1220 subjects [50.0%]), and significantly higher than that in the first quartile (reference group) (634 subjects [25.9%]) ( P < 0.001). A positive smoking habit (OR, 1.47 [1.26-1.70], P < 0.001) and the presence of either metabolic syndrome-International Diabetes Federation (OR, 1.35 [1.18-1.55], P < 0.001) or metabolic syndrome-ATPIII (OR, 1.40 [1.18-1.50], P < 0.001) were strong predictors of a fourth quartile for serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein concentration. Conclusions There was a significant association between high concentrations of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the presence of metabolic syndrome among individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease in our Persian cohort.