Changes of Inflammatory Markers as the Changes of Obesity Prevalence in Middle-aged Korean Men

Kim, A Ryon; Kim, Kwang Min; Kim, Bom Taeck; Park, Sat Byul; Lee, Duck Joo; Kim, Sang Man; Choi, Seung Hwa; Kim, Bo Young; Kim, Kyu Nam; Joo, Nam Seok

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity has been increasing recently and obesity is thought to play a key role in atherosclerosis through low-grade chronic inflammation. In this study, we evaluated the relation of changes in inflammatory markers under the prevalence of obesity.
METHODS
We evaluated the data of 6,095 middle-aged men, who visited the health promotion center of a hospital in 2004 and 2006. WBC count, uric acid, hsCRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine were used as markers of inflammation. We compared anthropometry, parameters of metabolic syndrome, prevalence of obesity and changes in inflammatory markers.
RESULTS
In comparison with the prevalence of obesity, central obesity and metabolic syndrome in 2004 (39.0%, 24.3%, and 25.3%, respectively), the prevalence increased to 41.9%, 30.2%, 27.5% in 2006, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in parameters of metabolic syndrome between 2 years. Among inflammatory markers, WBC count increased from 6.256 +/- 1.325 x 10(3)/microliter in 2004 to 6.387 +/- 1.344 x 103/microliter in 2006, (P < 0.001) and hsCRP increased from 0.111 +/- 0.108 mg/dL in 2004 to 0.122 +/- 0.129 mg/dL in 2006 (P = 0.005). Fibrinogen increased from 314.909 +/- 60.497 mg/dL in 2004 to 343.685 +/- 62.186 mg/dL in 2006 (P < 0.001). When we compared inflammatory markers under the presence of obesity, WBC count, uric acid and hsCRP increased in the obese, centrally obese and metabolic syndrome group. Comparing 2004 and 2006 data for changes in inflammatory markers between the obese group and centrally obese group, WBC and hsCRP showed a significant difference in respect to presence or absence of obesity and central obesity before and after adjustment for age, smoking, alcohol intake, fasting glucose, and blood pressure.
CONCLUSION
Increase in prevalence of obesity may be associated with an increase in WBC count and hsCRP level before change in metabolic risk factors in middle aged men.