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Association Between C-Reactive Protein and Type 2 Diabetes in a Tunisian Population

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of CRP levels with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its related variables in a sample of the Tunisian population. Our sample included 129 patients with T2D and 187 control subjects. Body mass index (BMI), plasma lipids, glucose, insulin, and CRP concentrations were measured for each participant. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. T2D was defined as a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, the use of anti-diabetic drugs, or both. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 11.5. A significant difference in mean values of BMI, plasma lipids, FPG, insulin, and HOMA-IR was observed between subjects with and without T2D. CRP level was significantly higher in subjects with T2D than those without (p = 0.023), and this result persisted even after adjustment for age, gender, BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. In both diabetes statuses, log CRP was significantly associated with FPG, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Subjects with elevated CRP levels (>5 mg/L) had an increased risk of T2D (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.18–3.46, p = 0.010) than those whose CRP levels were less or equal to 5 mg/L. Even after adjustment for potentially confounding factors, the risk of T2D was still increased in subjects with elevated CRP levels (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.08–3.36, p = 0.025). These results suggest that elevated CRP levels are independently associated with T2D.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by a grant from The “Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology” of Tunisia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El-Manar, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar-La Rabta-1007 Bab Saâdoun, Tunis, Tunisia

    Hanen Belfki, Samir Ben Ali, Souha Bougatef & Habiba Ben Romdhane

  2. Laboratory of Medical Biology, Mahmoud El-Matri Hospital of Ariana, Tunis, Tunisia

    Awatef Jmal & Monia Abdennebi

  3. Center of Basic Health Care of Ariana Essoghra, Tunis, Tunisia

    Decy Ben Ahmed & Najet Haddad

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  1. Hanen Belfki
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  2. Samir Ben Ali
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Belfki, H., Ben Ali, S., Bougatef, S. et al. Association Between C-Reactive Protein and Type 2 Diabetes in a Tunisian Population. Inflammation 35, 684–689 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-011-9361-1

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