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Association between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat in healthy older men and women

Natalie Ella Miller1, Andrew Steptoe2

  • 1Department of Behavioural Science and Health, Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, Gower Street, London, UK. Natalie.miller.20@ucl.ac.uk.

Scientific Reports
|August 17, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Depressive symptoms are linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk in men, potentially through increased pericardial fat. Inflammation may play a role in this association, highlighting a pathway for cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • Depressive symptoms increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with inflammation as a potential mediator.
  • Pericardial fat, a metabolically active depot, is linked to CVD pathogenesis, but its connection to depression is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat in healthy adults.
  • To explore the role of inflammation in the relationship between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 543 healthy men and women (mean age 62.9 years) from the Whitehall II cohort.
  • Assessed depressive symptoms and pericardial fat cross-sectionally and longitudinally over three years.
  • Measured plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration to index inflammation.

Main Results:

  • In men, depressive symptoms showed a positive cross-sectional association with pericardial fat, partially mediated by IL-6 (17%).
  • Depressive symptoms did not longitudinally predict future pericardial fat in men after accounting for baseline levels.
  • No significant associations were observed between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat in women.

Conclusions:

  • Increased pericardial fat may mediate the association between depressive symptoms and heightened CVD risk in men.
  • Inflammation, specifically IL-6, may be a contributing factor in this pathway.
  • Findings suggest potential sex-specific mechanisms linking depression, pericardial fat, and cardiovascular risk.

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