Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Hs-CRP/HDL-C) ratio and sarcopenia among U.S. population by using composite marker integrating systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism.MethodThis study in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xin-Yan Guo, Liang-Wen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600421/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839642325676982272
author Xin-Yan Guo
Liang-Wen Li
author_facet Xin-Yan Guo
Liang-Wen Li
author_sort Xin-Yan Guo
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Hs-CRP/HDL-C) ratio and sarcopenia among U.S. population by using composite marker integrating systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism.MethodThis study included participants from the 2015–2018 of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the skeletal muscle index (SMI) by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology. The Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio was derived from laboratory examinations, was categorized into quartiles. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates, were employed to assess the association between the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and sarcopenia. Subgroup analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to examine potential nonlinear relationships and threshold effects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio, Hs-CRP, and HDL-C indicators in predicting sarcopenia.ResultsThis study finally recorded 4,152 participants from NHANES from 2015–2018 for analysis. Elevated Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratios were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia, with a dose-response relationship observed across quartiles (p for trend <0.05). The fully adjusted model revealed that each unit increase in the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio corresponded to a 6% higher risk of sarcopenia (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.04–1.08, p=0.004). Participants in the highest quartile (≥2.75) of the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio had a 122% higher risk of sarcopenia compared to those in the lowest quartile (p=0.005). Subgroup analyses showed a stronger association in adults aged ≥40 years, with notable differences across races, especially among non-Hispanic Whites and other race. RCS model identified a non-linear association, with a threshold effect at a ratio of 0.86. The combined inflammatory and lipid markers Hs CRP/HDL-C showed stronger predictive performance (AUC: 0.685, 95% CI 0.666-0.703).ConclusionThe Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio can serve as a practical indicator to identify individuals at higher risk of sarcopenia, capturing the combined effects of chronic inflammation and lipid metabolism issues. This ratio may be useful for early detection and prevention efforts targeting sarcopenia. However, more prospective research is needed to confirm these findings.
format Article
id doaj-art-49c5087176c9425a9dd923b04293c0a3
institution Matheson Library
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-49c5087176c9425a9dd923b04293c0a32025-07-02T09:22:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16004211600421Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018Xin-Yan Guo0Liang-Wen Li1Department of Orthopaedics, Tiantai County Chinese Medicine Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Orthopaedics, The Second People’s Hospital of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Hs-CRP/HDL-C) ratio and sarcopenia among U.S. population by using composite marker integrating systemic inflammation and lipid metabolism.MethodThis study included participants from the 2015–2018 of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the skeletal muscle index (SMI) by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology. The Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio was derived from laboratory examinations, was categorized into quartiles. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and clinical covariates, were employed to assess the association between the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and sarcopenia. Subgroup analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to examine potential nonlinear relationships and threshold effects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio, Hs-CRP, and HDL-C indicators in predicting sarcopenia.ResultsThis study finally recorded 4,152 participants from NHANES from 2015–2018 for analysis. Elevated Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratios were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia, with a dose-response relationship observed across quartiles (p for trend <0.05). The fully adjusted model revealed that each unit increase in the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio corresponded to a 6% higher risk of sarcopenia (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.04–1.08, p=0.004). Participants in the highest quartile (≥2.75) of the Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio had a 122% higher risk of sarcopenia compared to those in the lowest quartile (p=0.005). Subgroup analyses showed a stronger association in adults aged ≥40 years, with notable differences across races, especially among non-Hispanic Whites and other race. RCS model identified a non-linear association, with a threshold effect at a ratio of 0.86. The combined inflammatory and lipid markers Hs CRP/HDL-C showed stronger predictive performance (AUC: 0.685, 95% CI 0.666-0.703).ConclusionThe Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio can serve as a practical indicator to identify individuals at higher risk of sarcopenia, capturing the combined effects of chronic inflammation and lipid metabolism issues. This ratio may be useful for early detection and prevention efforts targeting sarcopenia. However, more prospective research is needed to confirm these findings.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600421/fullHs-CRP/HDL-C ratioinflammationlipid metabolismNHANEScross-sectional study
spellingShingle Xin-Yan Guo
Liang-Wen Li
Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
Frontiers in Immunology
Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio
inflammation
lipid metabolism
NHANES
cross-sectional study
title Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
title_full Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
title_fullStr Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
title_full_unstemmed Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
title_short Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio as a predictive inflammatory-lipid marker for sarcopenia: evidence from NHANES 2015–2018
title_sort hs crp hdl c ratio as a predictive inflammatory lipid marker for sarcopenia evidence from nhanes 2015 2018
topic Hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio
inflammation
lipid metabolism
NHANES
cross-sectional study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600421/full
work_keys_str_mv AT xinyanguo hscrphdlcratioasapredictiveinflammatorylipidmarkerforsarcopeniaevidencefromnhanes20152018
AT liangwenli hscrphdlcratioasapredictiveinflammatorylipidmarkerforsarcopeniaevidencefromnhanes20152018