Gender differences in the relationship between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity 2013-08, Vol.37 (Suppl 1), p.S38-S43
• Main Authors: Vetter, M L, Wadden, T A, Vinnard, C, Moore, R H, Khan, Z, Volger, S, Sarwer, D B, Faulconbridge, L F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/250/256; 631/443/319/1642/393; 692/53; 692/699/476/1414; Biomarkers - blood; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Demographic aspects; Depression - blood; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - prevention & control; Depression, Mental; Development and progression; Epidemiology; Female; Gender differences; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health risks; Humans; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - epidemiology; Inflammation - prevention & control; Internal Medicine; Male; Measurement; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - prevention & control; original-article; Pennsylvania - epidemiology; Physiological aspects; Primary Health Care; Public Health; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk factors; Sex Factors; Sex factors in disease; Surveys and Questionnaires; Womens health
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2013.95

Background: Depression has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) has also been identified as an independent predictor of short- and long-term cardiovascular disease events. Inflammation may influence the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in an obese clinical population. We also sought to determine whether this relationship was different in men and women, given prior reports of a gender effect. Methods: Symptoms of depression and hs-CRP were measured in 390 participants enrolled in a weight loss intervention trial that was delivered in a primary care setting. Symptoms of depression were evaluated with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), in which a score ⩾10 is consistent with major depression. Results: A total of 58 (15.2%) participants reported a PHQ-8 score ⩾10. The median (interquartile range) hs-CRP concentration was significantly higher in participants with symptoms consistent with major depression (7.7 (4.2–13) mg l −1 ) compared with those without depression (5.1 (3–9.7) mg l −1 ; P