Association between major depressive disorder and C-reactive protein levels in stable coronary heart disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed for a comprehensive evaluation of major depressive disorder (MDD) in stable coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, excluding all other potential psychiatric comorbidities, and including associations with cardiac biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin T (TnT), and amino-terminal pro-B-type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of a consecutive series of 72 stable CHD outpatients (n=30 with MDD, n=42 with no psychiatric disorder). Psychiatric diagnoses were established by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), and psychiatric assessment was performed on Axis I, Axis III, Axis IV, and Axis V. Regression analyses were performed including CRP, TnT, and NT-proBNP as dependent variables, and MDD, demographics, and comorbid medical conditions as independent variables.


RESULTS
Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed a significant association between MDD and CRP (beta=0.262, P=.02), excluding all other demographic and medical variables from the models, except age (beta=0.266, P=.02). In addition, the results described a significant relationship between type II diabetes mellitus and TnT (beta=0.267, P=.02), and age and NT-proBNP levels (beta=0.374, P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Major depressive disorder was associated with elevated CRP levels in a consecutive series of stable CHD patients.
Bankier
Bettina
B
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. bettina.bankier@meduniwien.ac.at
Barajas
Justine
J
Martinez-Rumayor
Abelardo
A
Januzzi
James L
JL
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014336:Troponin; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein