An important clinical consideration is the generalizability of these data, particularly to women. In the Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort of some 38,000 middle-aged, predominantly postmenopausal American women who were free of cardiovascular disease at study entry, the relative risk of future vascular events increased as the level of C-reactive protein went from low-normal to high-normal. This was true for all vascular events as well as for the specific combined endpoint of MI or stroke.

Reference:
Ridker PM, Buring JE, Shih J, Matias M, Hennekens CH. Prospective study of C-reactive protein and the risk of future cardiovascular events among apparently healthy women. Circulation 1998;98:731-733.