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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, depressive symptoms and somatic comorbidity in patients with coronary heart

Mira Tschorn1,2, Stella Linnea Kuhlmann3,4, Nina Rieckmann3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.

Acta Neuropsychiatrica
|September 24, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are linked to cardiovascular issues in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). While not directly tied to depression severity, BDNF may be influenced by somatic comorbidities and heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Depression and coronary heart disease (CHD) frequently coexist.
  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is crucial for cardiovascular function and is often reduced in depression.
  • Understanding the interplay between BDNF, depression, and cardiovascular health is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between BDNF concentrations and depression in CHD patients.
  • To differentiate the impact of cognitive-affective versus somatic depression symptoms on BDNF.
  • To assess associations between BDNF, somatic comorbidity burden, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Main Methods:

  • Assessed BDNF levels, depression (PHQ-9), and somatic comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index) in 225 hospitalized CHD patients.
  • Collected data on CHF, ACS, platelet count, smoking status, and antidepressant treatment.
  • Employed regression models to analyze the relationships between variables.

Main Results:

  • BDNF was not significantly associated with overall depression severity.
  • Depressed patients showed lower BDNF, but this was not significant after adjusting for confounders.
  • BDNF concentrations were significantly reduced in patients with CHF (p=0.02).
  • Cognitive-affective symptoms and somatic comorbidity burden approached statistical significance with BDNF (p=0.08 and p=0.06).

Conclusions:

  • Serum BDNF is associated with cardiovascular dysfunction, particularly CHF.
  • Somatic comorbidities, not just depression severity, should be considered when studying BDNF in CHD patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
BDNFacute coronary syndromecoronary heart diseasedepressionheart failuresomatic comorbidity

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