Elevated C-reactive protein to albumin ratio levels increase COPD risk: Study

Of the participants, a total of 1,809 were identified as having COPD. The study revealed that elevated CAR levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of COPD. After accounting for various confounding variables, the odds ratio (OR) for the CAR-COPD association stood at 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.69; P = 0.003).

Further analysis compared individuals in the lowest CAR tertile (T1) and the ones in the highest tertile which showed even stronger results. The adjusted OR was 1.39 (95% CI, 1.17–1.65; P < 0.001), which indicated a substantial increase in COPD risk among individuals with elevated CAR levels. These findings were reinforced by the subgroup and sensitivity analyses, which demonstrated the stability and consistency of the observed relationship.

These results underline the potential of CAR as a vital marker for identifying individuals at higher risk of COPD. By incorporating CAR analysis into routine medical assessments, physicians could improve early detection and targeted interventions for this condition. This research marks a significant step forward in understanding the underlying mechanisms linking inflammation and protein levels to COPD. Further investigations encourage to explore the role of CAR in disease progression and to develop preventive strategies aimed at reducing the global burden of COPD.

Reference:

Ao, T., Huang, Y., Zhen, P., & Hu, M. (2025). Association between C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study. In BMC Pulmonary Medicine (Vol. 25, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-024-03469-w