C-reactive protein and white blood cell are associated with frailty progression: a longitudinal study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Systemic inflammation has been linked to diseases and frailty. However, little is known about the effect of systemic inflammation on frailty progression with a longitudinal study design.

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to investigate the associations of two inflammation indicators, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC), with frailty progression.

METHODS:

This study utilized data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2018 (wave 1-wave 4). Frailty index (FI) was calculated using 40 items from wave 1 to wave 4 (range: 0 to 1). Two systemic inflammation biomarkers, CRP and WBC, were measured at baseline (wave 1) and logs transformed as continuous variables or grouped using quartiles. Linear mixed-effect models were used to analyze the associations of these two biomarkers with the progression of frailty with adjustment for potential confounding factors.

RESULTS:

The study enrolled 9111 middle-aged and older participants (52.7% females, mean age 58.8 ± 9.3 years). The median follow-up time was 7.0 years. In a fully adjusted model with further adjustment for baseline FI, higher CRP (β for the interaction with time = 0.239, 95% CI: 0.139 to 0.338) and WBC (β for the interaction with time = 0.425, 95% CI: 0.024 to 0.825) significantly accelerated the rate of increase in the FI during the follow-up period. The associations were more pronounced in younger people (< 60 years) than older people (≥60 years).

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher CRP and WBC accelerated the progression of frailty, particularly in younger groups (< 60 years). The findings suggest the importance of systemic inflammation for the early identification of people at high risk of rapid progression of frailty.

• Authors: Zongxue Cheng, Di He, Jun Li, Qiong Wu, Zuyun Liu, Yimin Zhu
• Journal: Immunity & ageing : I & A (Immun Ageing) Vol. 19 Issue 1 Pg. 29 (Jun 03 2022) ISSN: 1742-4933 [Print] England
• PMID: 35659691 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).