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Association between depression and elevated C-reactive protein

Marion Danner1, Stanislav V Kasl, Jerome L Abramson

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30306, USA.

Psychosomatic Medicine
|May 24, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Depression is linked to increased inflammation, specifically elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), in young men. This finding suggests a potential mechanism connecting major depressive episodes to cardiovascular disease risk in this demographic.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular disease research
  • Psychiatry and mental health
  • Inflammation and immunology

Background:

  • Depression is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Atherosclerosis, a key process in heart disease, involves inflammation.
  • This study explores whether depression contributes to cardiovascular risk by promoting systemic inflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between a history of major depressive episodes and low-grade systemic inflammation.
  • To measure systemic inflammation using serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
  • To examine this relationship in a representative sample of the US population.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).
  • Inclusion of 6149 participants aged 17-39, free from cardiovascular and chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • Assessment of lifetime major depressive episode history and elevated CRP levels (> or =22 mg/dl).

Main Results:

  • A history of major depressive episode was significantly associated with elevated CRP in men.
  • Men with recent depressive episodes (within 6 months) showed the strongest association with higher CRP levels.
  • The association between depression and elevated CRP was weak and not statistically significant in women.

Conclusions:

  • Recent major depressive episodes are strongly linked to elevated CRP in men aged 17-39.
  • Low-grade systemic inflammation may be a key mechanism explaining the depression-cardiovascular risk connection in young men.
  • Further research is warranted to explore this link and potential interventions.
Abstract

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