Association between depression and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have suggested an association between depression and subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by presence of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and increased intima-media thickening in non-clinical populations. Given the high prevalence of depression in patients with Type 1 diabetes and the diabetes-related risk factors for atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that this relation might also be of special relevance in Type 1 diabetic patients.


METHODS
Intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaques in the carotid arteries were quantitatively assessed by high-resolution ultrasound in 175 adults (89 men, 86 women) with an established diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. Having been treated for depression or current Beck Depression Inventory scores > 10 were considered to indicate depression.


RESULTS
In men, the risk of plaque was higher in depressed subjects relative to non-depressed participants after adjustment for age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and body mass index [odds ratio (OR) 5.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29, 20.81]. Depressed women did not have an increased risk of plaque compared with non-depressed women (OR 0.97; 95% 95% CI 0.22, 4.34). We did not observe an association between depression and IMT, in men or in women.


CONCLUSIONS
In line with previous research, our findings suggest a link between depression and subclinical atherosclerosis in Type 1 diabetic men, but not in women.
Spitzer
C
C
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, Greifswald/Stralsund, Gerrmany. spitzer@uni-greifswald.de
Völzke
H
H
Barnow
S
S
Krohn
U
U
Wallaschofski
H
H
Lüdemann
J
J
John
U
U
Freyberger
H J
HJ
Kerner
W
W
Grabe
H J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*