The prevalence of positive C-reactive protein and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Halime  Aali; Jafar  Poodineh; Amirhossein Azariyan

doi:10.66224/jcbior.7.1.349

Authors

Halime Aali Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Amir Al Momenin Hospital, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Jafar Poodineh Department of Clinical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Amirhossein Azariyan Student Research Committee, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7118-8926

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66224/jcbior.7.1.349

Keywords:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, C-reactive protein, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Abstract

Chronic inflammation plays a central role in both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study evaluated the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) among patients with T2DM, NAFLD, and concurrent disease. In this cross-sectional study, 150 participants were equally divided into three groups: T2DM or NAFLD, and concurrent T2DM and NAFLD. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, and CRP and ESR levels were measured. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression models adjusted for age and gender by reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ESR levels differed significantly among groups (p <0.001), with the highest values observed in the T2DM+NAFLD group. Adjusted logistic regression showed that patients with T2DM+NAFLD had a 3.8-fold increased odds of elevated ESR compared to NAFLD alone (95% CI: 1.345–10.759, p=0.012). CRP positivity did not significantly differ between groups; however, categorical CRP analysis revealed significant distribution differences (p <0.001). Coexistence of T2DM and NAFLD is associated with greater systemic inflammatory burden, particularly reflected by elevated ESR. ESR may serve as a more sensitive inflammatory marker than CRP in patients with combined metabolic disorders.

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