Our main findings were that (i) circulating levels of DUSP1 and hsCRP were elevated in CVD cases while oxLDL was higher in controls; (ii) as expected, hsCRP correlated with obesity markers, suggesting that the association between hsCRP and CVD is largely accounted for by adiposity risk factors; and (iii) DUSP1 levels are independently associated with CVD despite statin treatment and diabetes status. Here, DUSP1 is linked to obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.