C-reactive Protein Concentration Distribution among US Children and Young Adults: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2000

Abstract

Abstract Background: The distribution of C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations among children and young adults in the US is not known at present. Methods: We used data from 3348 US children and young adults 3–19 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2000, to describe the distribution of CRP concentrations, based on results obtained with a high-sensitivity latex-enhanced turbidimetric assay. Results: The range of CRP concentrations was 0.1–90.8 mg/L (mean, 1.6 mg/L; geometric mean, 0.5 mg/L; median, 0.4 mg/L). CRP concentrations increased with age. Females 16–19 years of age had higher concentrations than males in this age range (P = 0.003). Mexican Americans had the highest CRP concentrations among the three major race or ethnic groups (P <0.001). Conclusions: For the first time, these data describe the CRP concentration distribution among US children and young adults, based on results obtained with a high-sensitivity assay.