Metabolic syndrome predisposes to depressive symptoms: a population-based 7-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested that patients with depression have a high risk for metabolic syndrome. As there is a paucity of data concerning the temporal relationship of depression and metabolic syndrome, we decided to evaluate the risk for developing depressive symptoms in patients with metabolic syndrome in a population-based follow-up study.


METHODS
The prevalence of depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome at baseline in 1998 and at 7-year follow-up in 2004/2005 was studied in a large, middle-aged, population-based sample collected from Central Finland. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory, with a cutoff score of 10 points. Metabolic syndrome was assessed using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.


RESULTS
Nondepressed women and men with metabolic syndrome at baseline were twice as likely to have depressive symptoms at follow-up (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1 to 4.5 for women; OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.8 to 5.9 for men) as compared with the nondepressed cohort members without metabolic syndrome at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher rate of depressive symptoms in the subgroup with metabolic syndrome suggests that the metabolic syndrome may be an important predisposing factor for the development of depression. Effective prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome could also be important for the prevention of depression.
Koponen
Hannu
H
Department of Psychiatry, University of Kuopio, and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. hannujuhani.koponen@uku.fi
Jokelainen
Jari
J
Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
Sirkka
S
Kumpusalo
Esko
E
Vanhala
Mauno
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone