The association between C-reactive protein-to-lymphocyte ratio and telomere length: A cross-sectional population-based study.

The association of inflammation and telomere length (TL) have drawn much attention. However, the association between the C-reactive protein-to-lymphocyte ratio (CLR) and TL has never been reported before. The authors aimed to investigate the association between CLR and TL in US population. Data for this cross-sectional analysis were extracted from the 1999 to 2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including only participants with complete data on CLR and TL. We employed multivariable regression and logistic regression analyses to investigate the independent association between CLR and TL. Additionally, subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted to further explore these relationships. A total of 5517 participants were enrolled in the study, with those in the highest quartile of CLR exhibiting a tendency toward shorter TL. The mean TL was 5747.491 ± 677.02 base pairs. Individuals in quartiles with shorter TL showed a trend toward higher CLR values (quartile 1: 5866.17 ± 831.57; quartile 2: 5756.49 ± 632.42; quartile 3: 5704.13 ± 585.09; quartile 4: 5663.31 ± 614.61; P < .001). Those in the highest CLR quartile displayed a mean TL that was 202.86 base pairs shorter (β = -202.86, 95% CI: -253.09 to -152.63). Subgroup analyses and interaction tests revealed that the negative association between CLR and TL was consistent across populations with varying demographics, including gender, race, smoking, and alcohol consumption, suggesting its applicability to diverse population settings. Higher CLR was significantly associated with shorter TL, suggesting a link between systemic inflammation and telomere attrition.