Depression and C-reactive protein: population-based Health 2000 Study.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether depression is independently associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a large nationwide population-based sample.


METHODS
Depression and CRP were assessed in 6005 Finns aged >30 years, as part of the ongoing population-based Health 2000 Study. Depression was determined by responses to the Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and by Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).


RESULTS
Higher scores on BDI-21 were related to higher CRP levels (beta = 0.12, p < .001) in men and (beta = 0.08, p < .001) in women. In men, but not in women, this relationship persisted after adjustment for a number of other known risk factors. In men, the more recent dysthymic disorder or at least moderate depressive episode defined using CIDI was related to elevated CRP levels (beta = 0.06, p = .006).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms may be partly responsible for inflammatory processes, and inflammatory processes may induce depressive symptoms in men.
Elovainio
Marko
M
National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, Fin-00271 Helsinki, Finland. marko.elovainio@healsinki.fi
Aalto
Anna-Mari
AM
Kivimäki
Mika
M
Pirkola
Sami
S
Sundvall
Jouko
J
Lönnqvist
Jouko
J
Reunanen
Antti
A
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein