Objective:

To investigate the association between elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and the risk of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and ischemic stroke (IS).

Approach:

• Study Design: Cross-cohort study including 459,188 participants from the UK Biobank and 338 participants from a Chinese cohort.
• Follow-Up: Median follow-up of 12.2 years.
• Data Collection: Recorded cases of RAO and IS from hospital records.

Key Findings:

• Each 10 mg/L increase in hs-CRP linked to a 34% higher risk of RAO (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.01–1.76).
• Each 10 mg/L increase in hs-CRP associated with a 24% higher risk of IS (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.17–1.33).
• In the Chinese cohort, each 1 mg/L increase in hs-CRP linked to a 43% higher risk of RAO (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.15–1.78) and a 13% higher risk of IS (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03–1.24).

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Reliance on hospital records may have led to underreporting of RAO and IS cases.
• hs-CRP measurements taken at a single time point limit assessment of dynamic changes.

Conclusion:

Sources:

• BMJ Article