CRP and Hypertension: Lastly, we include four proxies for cardiovascular health including blood serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for inflammation; cholesterol ratio; hypertension; and heart rate.12 All four of these measures capture elements of risk for cardiovascular disease, as well as overall cardiovascular fitness, and were obtained by trained data collectors rather than self-reported, with higher levels indicating diminished health.