| Characteristics | Normal→normal | Normal→elevated | Elevated→normal | Elevated→elevated | p Value | |
| Number of subjects (n) | 335 | 451 | 636 | 3879 | ||
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 52.5 (20.7) | 57.2 (22.5) | 54.8 (21.3) | 61.6 (19.9) | ANOVA <0.001 | |
| Female (%) | 55.7 | 53.3 | 59.3 | 56.7 | χ2 <0.397 | |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/l), mean (SD) | 4.9 (1.1) | 4.7 (1.1) | 4.9 (1.1) | 4.7 (1.5) | ANOVA 0.636 | |
| LDL (mmol/l), mean (SD) | 3.3 (0.8) | 2.9 (0.7) | 2.9 (1.0) | 3.0 (1.0) | ANOVA 0.520 | |
| With prior diabetes (%) | 9.5 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 10.0 | χ2 0.097 | |
| With prior vascular disease (%) | 24.1 | 29.3 | 24.0 | 36.5 | χ2 <0.001 | |
| With prior cancer (%) | 6.2 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 9.9 | χ2 <0.001 | |
| Dead within 3 years of CRP observation period (%) | 1.7 | 14.3 | 5.9 | 17.7 | χ2 <0.001 | |
| Experiencing acute ischaemic event within 3 years of CRP observation (%) | 0.6 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 3.5 | χ2 0.001 |
ANOVA, one-way analysis of variance; χ2, chi-square test; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.