High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (Hs-CRP): A Novel Inflammatory Marker In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent and chronic progressive metabolic disorder afflicting mankind. The disease progression of diabetes mellitus has been linked with chronic subclinical inflammation, which can be detected through the measurement of the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). However, there is conflicting and limited data available regarding this issue. The goal of the current study was to look into the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hs-CRP.
Methods: 200 people participated in a descriptive cross-sectional study, 100 of whom had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the other 100 appeared to be healthy subjects which served as controls. Half of the participants in the case and control groups were female. All the participants were age and sex matched and were only enrolled if they satisfied the diagnostic criteria of T2DM as per the American Diabetes Association. All the subjects underwent detailed history, clinical examination, and biochemical analysis. The biochemical analysis included Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hs-CRP, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and postprandial blood glucose (PPBG).
Results: Compared to the control group with mean hs-CRP level of 0.97±0.26 mg/L, T2DM patients had a substantially higher mean hs-CRP level of 2.65± 3.65 mg/L. Additionally, a substantial correlation was discovered between the mean hs-CRP level and FBG, PPBG, HbA1c level, and duration of T2DM. The mean value of hs-CRP was substantially higher (4.76 ± 4.73 mg/L) in ≥ 10-year duration patients of T2DM than in < 10-year duration T2DM patients having mean value of 1.30 ± 1.76 mg/L (P value of < 0.0001).
Conclusion: Underlying low-grade subclinical inflammation can result in diabetes mellitus, which can be assessed by the level of hs-CRP.