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Relationship between depression and C-reactive protein in a screening population
Kevin M Douglas1, Allen J Taylor, Patrick G O'Malley
1General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. kevin.douglas@na.amedd.army.mil
Psychosomatic Medicine
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Depression and C-reactive protein (CRP) are linked to cardiovascular risk. This study found that while depression scores weakly correlated with CRP, this association disappeared after adjusting for body mass index (BMI).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Depression and C-reactive protein (CRP) are established risk factors for cardiovascular events.
- Understanding the interplay between depression and CRP is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between CRP and depression in a cohort of US Army personnel.
- To determine if CRP or depression mediates or confounds the risk for cardiovascular events.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted on 696 US Army personnel undergoing periodic physicals.
- Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).
- High-sensitivity assay was used to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Main Results:
- Depression scores showed a weak positive correlation with CRP levels (r = 0.085, p = .028).
- Other CRP-associated variables included body mass index (BMI), insulin, mean arterial pressure, and triglycerides.
- After adjusting for BMI, the statistical significance of the depression-CRP relationship was lost in both men and women.
Conclusions:
- Depressive symptoms exhibit a weak correlation with CRP.
- The relationship between depression and CRP is not statistically significant after controlling for BMI.
- The link between depression and clinical coronary disease may be mediated by BMI, not directly by CRP levels.