High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is related to age and gender in an acute psychiatric inpatient population.

Increased levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is associated with several psychiatric disorders. Demographic factors such as age and gender might affect this association, but the results are conflicting. The aim of this study was to explore a relationship between age, gender and hsCRP in an acute psychiatric inpatient population. We included 484 patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward. Based on age distribution percentiles (25%, 50% and 75 %), we categorized patients into three age groups; ≦31 years old, 31-47 years old and ≧ 48 years old. Differences in serum levels of hsCRP between the age groups were assessed in the total sample, within males and females, and within diagnostic groups. There were significant differences in hsCRP across age groups. The effect was stronger in males than females. The significant differences between age groups were kept among patients with substance use disorders and bipolar disorders, but not among schizophrenia spectrum disorders, unipolar depression, neurotic disorders and personality disorders. Our findings suggest that the previously known association between age and hsCRP is present within an acute psychiatric population. However, this association was not found for all psychiatric diagnoses.