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Association between depression and coronary artery calcification in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Carol M Greco1, Amy H Kao, Abdus Sattar

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. grecocm@upmc.edu

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
|March 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

In women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), depression is linked to coronary artery calcification (CAC). This connection is mediated by Body Mass Index (BMI), highlighting adiposity

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Depression is a common comorbidity in SLE patients.
  • The interplay between depression, cardiovascular risk factors, and subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between depressive symptoms, cardiovascular risk factors, and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in women with SLE.
  • To compare these associations in SLE patients versus healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Coronary artery calcification (CAC) was quantified using electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT).
  • Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).
  • Data were collected from 161 women with SLE and 161 matched healthy controls, measuring traditional, inflammatory, and SLE-specific risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Women with SLE reported significantly more depressive symptoms than controls (27% vs. 15%).
  • SLE patients exhibited a higher prevalence and severity of CAC compared to controls.
  • In SLE women, depression was independently associated with a greater than 2-fold odds of having CAC (OR 2.48), an association attenuated by Body Mass Index (BMI), suggesting BMI mediation.

Conclusions:

  • Depression is significantly associated with coronary artery calcification in women with SLE.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) plays a mediating role in the relationship between depression and CAC in this population.
  • Combined, depression and adiposity may exacerbate the inflammatory burden in SLE, contributing to heightened cardiovascular disease risk.
Abstract

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