cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and hypertension, remain leading causes of mortality worldwide. These diseases are influenced by poor lifestyle, diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and genetic factors. This study evaluated the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as potential biomarkers for CVD diagnosis.
A total of 100 serum samples (60 CVD patients, 40 healthy controls) were collected from hospitals in Baghdad and Al-Diwaniyah. Samples were analyzed using sandwich ELISA in triplicate. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests, Pearson’s correlation, and ROC analysis. CRP levels were significantly elevated in CVD patients (4.06 ± 2.23 mg/L) compared to controls (0.849 ± 0.68 mg/L) (p < 0.0001). MMP-9 levels were also significantly higher (p < 0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed strong diagnostic performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.961 for CRP and 0.925 for MMP-9. CRP had perfect sensitivity (100%) and higher accuracy in identifying CVD. A weak inverse correlation was observed between CRP and MMP-9 (r = –0.121, p > 0.05), indicating they may operate through different biological pathways. Both CRP and MMP-9 are significantly elevated in CVD patients and may serve as useful, complementary biomarkers. CRP demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy. Further longitudinal and multi-marker studies are recommended.