
pmid: 32978716
pmc: PMC7847446
AbstractC-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied extensively for association with a large number of non-infectious diseases and outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the breadth and validity of associations between CRP and non-infectious, chronic health outcomes and biomarkers. We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses and a systematic review of Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched from inception up to March 2019. Meta-analyses of observational studies and MR studies examining associations between CRP and health outcomes were identified, excluding studies on the diagnostic value of CRP for infections. We found 113 meta-analytic comparisons of observational studies and 196 MR analyses, covering a wide range of outcomes. The overwhelming majority of the meta-analyses of observational studies reported a nominally statistically significant result (95/113, 84.1%); however, the majority of the meta-analyses displayed substantial heterogeneity (47.8%), small study effects (39.8%) or excess significance (41.6%). Only two outcomes, cardiovascular mortality and venous thromboembolism, showed convincing evidence of association with CRP levels. When examining the MR literature, we found MR studies for 53/113 outcomes examined in the observational study meta-analyses but substantial support for a causal association with CRP was not observed for any phenotype. Despite the striking amount of research on CRP, convincing evidence for associations and causal effects is remarkably limited.
SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION, Epidemiology, 610, Review, Environmental & Occupational Health, C-reactive protein, ADVERSE CARDIAC EVENTS, COLORECTAL-CANCER, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, Umbrella review, Bias, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Mendelian randomization, PROGNOSTIC ROLE, BREAST-CANCER, Humans, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY, Science & Technology, Public, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, BODY-MASS INDEX, Meta-analysis, Observational Studies as Topic, C-Reactive Protein, CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE, Systematic review, DOSE-RESPONSE METAANALYSIS, ANTIINFLAMMATORY THERAPIES, CRP, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Biomarkers, Systematic Reviews as Topic
SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION, Epidemiology, 610, Review, Environmental & Occupational Health, C-reactive protein, ADVERSE CARDIAC EVENTS, COLORECTAL-CANCER, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, Umbrella review, Bias, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Mendelian randomization, PROGNOSTIC ROLE, BREAST-CANCER, Humans, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health, ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY, Science & Technology, Public, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, BODY-MASS INDEX, Meta-analysis, Observational Studies as Topic, C-Reactive Protein, CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE, Systematic review, DOSE-RESPONSE METAANALYSIS, ANTIINFLAMMATORY THERAPIES, CRP, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Biomarkers, Systematic Reviews as Topic
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| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
