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Major depressive disorder and inflammatory markers in elderly patients with heart failure

Anna Maria Andrei1, Renerio Fraguas, Renata M S Telles

  • 1Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Psychosomatics
|June 30, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Older adults with chronic heart failure (CHF) and major depressive disorder (MDD) show elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. This inflammatory marker was significantly higher in CHF patients with MDD compared to healthy controls.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a prevalent condition in older adults, often co-occurring with other health issues.
  • Major depressive disorder (MDD) is frequently observed in patients with CHF, potentially exacerbating symptoms and impacting prognosis.
  • Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of both CHF and MDD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare inflammatory marker levels in elderly patients with CHF, with and without comorbid MDD.
  • To assess differences in specific inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), across the study groups.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 34 elderly outpatients (≥65 years) with CHF (left-ventricular ejection fraction <0.40, NYHA class II/III) and 13 healthy controls.
  • CHF patients were categorized based on the presence (N=18) or absence (N=16) of major depressive disorder (MDD), diagnosed using the SCID DSM-IV.
  • Serum levels of hs-CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured and compared among the three groups.

Main Results:

  • Patients with CHF and MDD exhibited significantly higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) compared to healthy-control subjects.
  • No significant differences in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were observed among the chronic heart failure (CHF) patients (with or without MDD) and the healthy-control group.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated hs-CRP may serve as a potential biomarker for the co-occurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • Further research is warranted to explore the specific inflammatory pathways involved and their clinical implications in this patient population.

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