Association of depressive symptoms with coagulation factors in young healthy individuals.
BACKGROUND
Depression has been reported to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated the association of depressive symptoms with lipids and coagulation factors in young individuals free of CHD.


METHODS
We recruited 1073 young healthy individuals candidates for military academies (mean age=18.4+/-0.8 years, males 762) in whom the presence of depressive symptoms was assessed by using the depression scale of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), fibrinogen, factors VII, VIII and X were measured.


RESULTS
The depression score ranged from 22 to 90. The participants were divided into quartiles according to the depression score. Three hundred twenty-two subjects were classified in the upper quartile (score>48) and 269 in the lower quartile (score<37) of the depression score. Factor VII (102.95+/-24 versus 98.5+/-20%) and X levels (92+/-11 versus 89.7+/-10%) were significantly higher in individuals in the upper quartile compared to the lower quartile of the depression score. In a logistic regression model with factor VII as dependent variable (upper versus lower quartile) and depression score, age, gender, body mass index, exercise and smoking as predictor variables, depression was an independent predictor of factor VII levels with an adjusted odds ratio for high levels of factor VII of 1.05 (95% confidence interval 1.008-1.09, p=0.01). Factor VII levels were associated with triglycerides (r=0.21, p=0.001) while factor X with triglycerides (r=0.22, p<0.001) and cholesterol levels (r=0.12, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressed mood is associated with a hypercoagulant profile as it is expressed by the higher levels of coagulation factors VII and X. This might partially explain the higher propensity for CHD of people with depressive symptoms.
Doulalas
Athanassios D
AD
Cardiology Department, 424 General Army Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Rallidis
Loukianos S
LS
Gialernios
Theodoros
T
Moschonas
Dimitrios N
DN
Kougioulis
Michalis N
MN
Rizos
Ioannis
I
Tselegaridis
Theophilos S
TS
Kremastinos
Dimitrios T
DT
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005167:Factor VII / Q000378:metabolism*; D005170:Factor X / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D005167:Factor VII; D005170:Factor X