High serum hs-CRP levels associated with elevated osteoarthritis risk: Nature

A recent research which used NHANES data from 2015 to 2018 discovered a strong correlation between the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) and higher serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP). The findings of this study were published in the recent issue of Nature Scientific Reports.

The most prevalent degenerative joint disease in the world is osteoarthritis. Osteophyte production, subchondral bone sclerosis, synovitis, and gradual deterioration of joint cartilage are some of the pathological characteristics of OA. OA has a complex etiology that includes inflammation, metabolic disorders, genetic predisposition, and mechanical stress. Although OA has always been viewed as a "wear-and-tear" condition, mounting data indicates that systemic inflammation may be a major contributing factor.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP), generated by the liver during inflammatory reactions, is one of the most researched systemic inflammatory markers. Numerous inflammatory diseases, like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease, are generally linked to elevated blood HSCRP levels. Thus, this study was to examine the relationship between the prevalence of OA and blood HSCRP levels.

To investigate the relationship between adult osteoarthritis and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels by offering further proof for the diagnosis of adult OA. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) performed between 2015 and 2018.

Laboratory data was used to extract serum HSCRP values, and questionnaire responses were used to identify OA patients. Individuals with missing data and those less than 20 years old were not included. They investigated the relationship between adult osteoarthritis and serum HSCRP levels using stratified analyses, restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions, and multivariable logistic regression models.

Following screening, a total of 9,948 persons were enrolled, 1,196 of them had osteoarthritis, which translates to a 12.02% prevalence rate. Serum HSCRP levels and the incidence of osteoarthritis in adults were positively correlated, according to multivariable logistic regression analysis and three adjusted models.

The prevalence of OA was 1.86 times greater in the highest quartile of HSCRP than in the lowest quartile. According to the limited cubic spline analysis, the incidence of OA significantly increased as serum HSCRP levels rose.

Across several subgroups, including age, gender, hypertension status, exercise status, drinking status, and smoking status, subgroup and forest plot analyses showed a positive association between HSCRP levels and osteoarthritis. Overall, even after controlling for covariates, there is a correlation between higher HSCRP levels and an increased risk of OA.

Reference:

Gao, T., Chen, Z.-Y., Li, T., Lin, X., Hu, H.-G., Wu, F., & Wu, C. (2025). Association between serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and osteoarthritis in adults from NHANES 2015 to 2018. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89253-0