| Characteristics | All subjects | Normal CRP ⩽3 mg/l | Elevated CRP 4–10 mg/l | Acutely high CRP >10 mg/l | p Value | |
| Number of subjects (n) | 5811 | 828 | 1531 | 3452 | ||
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 61.3 (20.29) | 56.2 (21.8) | 59.9 (19.8) | 63.1 (19.9) | ANOVA <0.001 | |
| Female (%) | 56.2 | 54.4 | 60.8 | 54.7 | χ2<0.001 | |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/l), mean (SD) | 4.7 (1.4) | 4.7 (1.2) | 4.8 (1.5) | 4.7 (1.3) | ANOVA 0.186 | |
| LDL (mmol/l), mean (SD) | 2.9 (1.0) | 3.1 (0.8) | 2.9 (1.0) | 2.8 (1.1) | ANOVA 0.291 | |
| With prior diabetes (%) | 10.5 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 11.6 | χ2 0.010 | |
| With prior vascular disease (%) | 37.4 | 29.1 | 34.4 | 40.6 | LLA <0.001 | |
| With prior cancer (%) | 8.7 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 9.9 | LLA 0.001 | |
| Dead within 3 years of CRP observation period (%) | 13.2 | 9.1 | 12.1 | 20.0 | LLA <0.001 | |
| Experiencing acute ischaemic event within 3 years of CRP observation (%) | 2.7 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 2.7 | LLA 0.339 |
ANOVA, one-way analysis of variance; χ2, chi-square test; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LLA, linear-by-linear association.