What is the Origin of Residual Inflammatory Risk?

This clinical concept emerged from large-scale cardiovascular outcome trials that demonstrated a significant portion of patients continued to experience events even after achieving optimal cholesterol and blood pressure targets. The term highlights the need to address inflammation as a distinct, actionable pathology in preventative medicine. It is a critical metric in advanced longevity and functional medicine protocols.

What is the Mechanism of Residual Inflammatory Risk?

The mechanism involves the chronic, low-level activation of the innate immune system, often driven by factors like visceral adiposity, gut dysbiosis, or persistent oxidative stress. Adipose tissue, for instance, releases pro-inflammatory adipokines and cytokines that perpetuate a systemic inflammatory state. This chronic activation leads to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated cellular senescence, thereby increasing the long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular and metabolic events.

Residual Inflammatory Risk

Meaning

Residual Inflammatory Risk refers to the persistent, low-grade systemic inflammation that remains in an individual despite standard therapeutic interventions aimed at managing primary cardiovascular, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases. This underlying, subclinical inflammation is a significant independent risk factor for future adverse health events and chronic disease progression. Clinical assessment of this risk often involves measuring high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other inflammatory biomarkers.