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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Hepatobiliary Diseases
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1453129

The Relationship Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Gallstones: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Provisionally accepted
Zhimeng Jiang Zhimeng Jiang 1,2*Huixin Jiang Huixin Jiang 3*Xingyu Zhu Xingyu Zhu 1,2*Donglin Zhao Donglin Zhao 1,2*Feifei Su Feifei Su 2*
  • 1 Graduate School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China
  • 2 Air Force Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, Beijing, China
  • 3 Haiyuan College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background and Objective: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a classical indicator of inflammation, holds significant clinical value in various diseases.The relationship between hs-CRP and gallstones, however, remains poorly studied at present. The relationship between hs-CRP and gallstones will be investigated in this study.Methods: Data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed, focusing on participants aged 20 years and older who provided complete hs-CRP and gallstone information. Due to the skewed distribution of hs-CRP, the data were log-transformed (Log (hs-CRP)) to achieve normalization. Logistic regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and smoothed fitted curves were applied to determine the relationship between Log (hs-CRP) and the presence of gallstones.The study included 4,484 participants with an average Log (hs-CRP) of 1.18 ± 0.74. The prevalence of gallstones was 11.15%, increasing with higher Log (hs-CRP) levels (quartile 1: 8.31%; quartile 2: 8.76%; quartile 3: 11.98%; quartile 4: 16.36%; p < 0.0001). Adjusting for all covariates in Model 3, each 10-fold increase in hs-CRP (corresponding to a one-unit increase in log10(hs-CRP)) corresponded to a 29% increased odds of gallstones prevalence [1.29 (1.12-1.49)]. The smoothed fitted curve showed a positive linear relationship between Log (hs-CRP) and gallstones prevalence. The results of subgroup analyses exhibited a more pronounced positive correlation in the 20-40 age group [1.70 (1.33, 2.16)], compared to those aged 40-60 years [1.22 (1.01, 1.48)] and 60-80 years [1.14 (0.98, 1.34)].Higher Log (hs-CRP) levels are linked to a greater prevalence of gallstones. We still need to carry out further large prospective research to explore the causal relationship of this association.

    Keywords: Gallstones, Cross-sectional study, High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Inflammatory, NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)

    Received: 22 Jun 2024; Accepted: 30 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Jiang, Jiang, Zhu, Zhao and Su. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Zhimeng Jiang, Graduate School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei Province, China
    Huixin Jiang, Haiyuan College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
    Xingyu Zhu, Graduate School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei Province, China
    Donglin Zhao, Graduate School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei Province, China
    Feifei Su, Air Force Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, Beijing, China

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