The HS CRP blood test is a high sensitive protein test that is used to help measure the potential risk factors a patient may have for future heart disease complications. Based on the results, a medical provider will classify a patients as having a low, moderate, high, or very high risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke at some point in the future.
This blood test is typically ordered if a medical provider suspects that there may be a high risk of future heart disease development, but the regular CRP tests came back in the normal range. The higher sensitivity rates can help to detect proteins that standardized testing does not always catch so that a complete picture of patient health can be achieved.
Not every medical provider will order this test when a CRP test is normal, so it may be necessary to ask for the HS CRP blood test if there are personal concerns regarding heart health.
Why Knowing HS CRP Levels Is Important
The proteins that are detected by the HS CRP blood test are only created when there is inflammation present within the body. This inflammation is believed to play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of a blood vessel due to the build-up of fatty deposits because of high cholesterol levels.
Because of this, the ordering of the HS CRP blood test depends on risk factors that are present in a patient. Men who are younger than 50 and women younger than 60 may benefit the most from this specific proteins test because the regular testing methods may not pick up inflammation markers with lipid levels are in the normal range. People who have an LDL cholesterol level of less than 130 may also benefit from this test to have a more accurate picture of heart health.
Once the HS CRP blood test is ordered, it will usually be ordered at periodic times throughout the year to monitor protein levels.
What the HS CRP Blood Test Results Mean
When people are otherwise healthy, even with other screening tests for heart health, but have a high HS CRP blood test result, then this may be a predictive factor for a future heart health problem. This may include atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, heart attack, and even sudden cardiac death. Higher levels of HS CRP are directly linked to higher risk factors.
Please Note: Risk factors are not the same thing as a specific disease diagnosis. People with high risk factors for heart disease development may never develop heart disease or suffer a heart attack or stroke. People with low risk factors may develop heart disease or suffer from a sudden cardiac event.
Based on results that have been collected from previous HS CRP testing, these are the diagnostic ranges that are followed by medical providers in the US.
Anything below 1 mg/L is considered to be a low risk result. Average risks are seen in the 1-3 mg/L range. A high risk result is anything that is above 3 mg/L. There may be a consideration for very high rest results when anything above 5 mg/L is discovered.
The HS CRP blood test alone is not used as a foundation for a future heart disease development risk. These results are combined with several other test results for a complete diagnosis.
Here’s What You Should Know
Certain medications are known to interfere with the accuracy of the HS CRP blood test. Any medication that reduces inflammation will naturally lower protein levels. Certain foods and supplements that may naturally reduce inflammation levels could also affect test results.
Anything that can cause inflammation will also create proteins that can be detected by this test. A tissue injury, infection, or even a recent bout with the common cold can all increase proteins within the blood on a temporary basis. Women who are on a hormone replacement regimen have also been shown to have higher protein levels than women in the general population.
People with chronic inflammation not associated with heart health issues will also have high test results that make lead a medical provider in the wrong diagnostic direction. When HS CRP levels are already very high, this test result may not be useful.
The HS CRP blood test can help provide information needed to evaluate future health risks. If you’re concerned about your heart health, then speak with your medical provider about the potential benefits these test results could provide.