Prognostic value of C-reactive protein in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

To establish whether C-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we followed 200 patients with COPD and 201 age- and gender -matched controls for a median time of 4.2 years (range, 0.2-5.1 years). Airflow obstruction was rated moderate if forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 50-69% of the predicted value, or severe if FEV1 was50%. The CRP level was categorized as low (B3 mg/L) or high ([3 mg/L). The hazard of death was estimated by a proportional hazard regression model, using controls with low CRP as the reference category. Fifty subjects died: 41 (21%) among the COPD and 9 (4%) among the controls (p