Self-rated health and C-reactive protein in young adults

Abstract

Background Poor self-rated health (SRH) and elevated inflammation and morbidity and mortality are robustly associated in middle- and older-aged adults. Less is known about SRH-elevated inflammation associations during young adulthood and whether these linkages differ by sex. Methods Data came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. At Wave IV, young adults aged 24–34 reported their SRH, acute and chronic illnesses, and sociodemographic and psychological characteristics relevant to health. Trained fieldworkers assessed medication use, BMI, waist circumference, and also collected bloodspots from which high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) was assayed. The sample size for the present analyses was N=13,236. Results Descriptive and bivariate analyses revealed a graded association between SRH and hs-CRP: Lower ratings of SRH were associated with a higher proportion of participants with hs-CRP > 3 mg/L and higher mean levels of hs-CRP. Associations between SRH and hs-CRP remained significant when acute and chronic illnesses, medication use, and health behaviors were taken into account. When BMI was taken into account, the association between SRH and hs-CRP association fully attenuated in females; a small, but significant association between SRH and hs-CRP remained in males. Conclusion Poor SRH and elevated hs-CRP are associated in young adults, adjusting for other health status measures, medication use, and health behavior. In males, SRH provided information about elevated hs-CRP that was independent of BMI. In females, BMI may be a better surrogate indicator of global health and pro-inflammatory influences compared to SRH.

Sex Differences in Associations Between Subjective Social Status and C-Reactive Protein in Young Adults

“…Finally, in Model 6 (“Obesity”), all indicators of health-related adiposity (BMI, BMI 2 , and waist circumference) were associated with hs-CRP, as was the BMI by sex interaction. As reported in another paper, BMI was also more strongly associated with hs-CRP in women than in men in this sample (43). …”

“…Self-rated health (SRH) was assessed by asking “In general, how is your health.” Possible responses were 5= excellent, 4= very good, 3= good, 2 = fair, and 1= poor . A SRH by sex interaction was also tested considering that previous work using this dataset had shown that SRH was associated with hs-CRP in young adult men but not women in fully adjusted models (43). Women reported whether they were currently pregnant or taking oral contraceptives .…”

Breastfeeding, overweight status, and inflammation

“…For example, harmful childhood exposures to infections and stress contribute to higher inflammation levels in children (Dowd, Zajacova, and Aiello 2009; Broyles et al 2012; McDade et al 2013; Slopen et al 2013), promoting biological processes that culminate in disease and poor health in later life (Crimmins and Finch 2006). Low-grade inflammation across adolescence and into young adulthood is not only associated with poorer health (Shanahan et al 2014a), but it also represents higher risk of chronic disease later in life, with strong implications for cardiovascular disease (Pearson et al 2003; Shanahan, Freeman, and Bauldry 2014b). The pathways through which childhood exposures promote inflammation thus contribute to the development of disadvantage and health disparities over the life course.…”

Changes in the Blood Components Caused by Water Intake

“…Self-rated health (SRH) is widely used as a subjective assessment of health status. Shanahan et al, reported that poor SRH is associated with elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in young adults [5].…”