Depressive symptoms and C-reactive protein: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
BACKGROUND
We tested the hypothesis that depressive symptoms in healthy young adults would be associated with elevated levels of C-reactive proteins (CRP).


METHODS
We studied the association between depressive symptoms and CRP in 1201 young adults, as a part of the on-going population-based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Depressive symptoms were determined by responses to a revised version of Beck's Depression Inventory in 1992 and 2001. CRP and other known cardiac risk factors were measured in 2001.


RESULTS
Higher depressive symptomatology in 1992 and in 2001 and their means score were related to higher CRP levels (B's range from 0.24 to 0.21, p < 0.001). These relationships persisted after separate adjustments for various risk factors including sex, age, education, oral contraceptive use, dietary fat, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking status, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and history of acute infectious disease. Adjustments for obesity and triglycerides levels, however, somewhat attenuated the relationship between depressive symptoms and CRP.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that higher levels of depressive symptoms are associated with higher levels of CRP, but this association may largely be attributable to obesity or triglycerides.
Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Elovainio
Marko
M
Keltikangas-Järvinen
Liisa
L
Pulkki-Råback
Laura
L
Kivimäki
Mika
M
Puttonen
Sampsa
S
Viikari
Liisa
L
Räsänen
Leena
L
Mansikkaniemi
Kristiina
K
Viikari
Jorma
J
Raitakari
Olli T
OT
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein