CRP and metabolic syndrome: Compared with individuals with LTL in the lower tertile (T1–T2), individuals in the highest tertile (T3) had a lower mean age, BMI, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, creatinine, total cholesterol, high school diploma, married status, history of cancer, hypertension, CVD, and MetS at baseline, and had a higher albumin, eGFR, and now smoking.