Abstract
Background: Many studies recognize a close link between inflammation, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and oncological diseases. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation, is a shared feature of these conditions. This retrospective study aims to assess the predictive value of hs-CRP for the development of cancer in patients with CVD. Methods: Analyzing data from 174 patients undergoing coronary angiography, we assessed hs-CRP levels and collected demographic, biological, and therapeutic data that could influence the studied parameters. Results: Only smoking and dyslipidemia correlated significantly with CRP levels (p = 0.018 and 0.049, respectively). However, hs-CRP did not predict cancer development (p = 0.52) but correlated with 1-year and follow-up mortality (p = 0.011 and 0.021, respectively). Antiplatelet and statin use was higher in the cancer-free group and associated with a lower probability of developing cancer (p < 0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: While hs-CRP did not prove effective as a cancer predictor in our study, it correlated with all-cause mortality. Our findings suggest a potential protective effect of antiplatelet and statin treatments against cancer development, prompting further research to understand underlying processes and identify key factors in the pathophysiology of these diseases.