Integrative assessment of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipid levels in predicting 20-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, in a Mediterranean population: The ATTICA study (2002-2022)

The authors aimed to investigate the combined predictive value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and various lipid measures for long-term atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in a Mediterranean population. They found that hs-CRP independently predicts 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and provides additional risk assessment beyond traditional lipid metrics, particularly in individuals with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). This study highlights hs-CRP as a significant residual risk factor even in populations with favorable inflammatory profiles.