Late-life depression, cortisol, and the metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
High-cortisol levels in depressed persons could possibly give rise to the metabolic syndrome. This study investigated cross-sectionally whether depression and high-cortisol levels increased the odds of metabolic syndrome in an older community-based sample.


METHODS
In 1,212 participants, aged > or =65 years, enrolled in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, depression (major [1-month diagnosis] or subthreshold [no 1-month diagnosis, but symptoms]), metabolic syndrome (modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria), and free cortisol index (total serum cortisol/cortisol binding globulin) were assessed.


RESULTS
Major depression was not associated with the metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54-2.49), but subthreshold depression was associated with a decreased odds (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.37-0.82). Persons with higher levels of free cortisol index showed a higher odds of metabolic syndrome (OR per standard deviation increase = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.06-1.39).


CONCLUSIONS
As persons with high-cortisol levels more often had metabolic syndrome, hypercortisolemia within depressed persons may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Vogelzangs
Nicole
N
Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A J Ernststraat 887, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.vogelzangs@ggzingeest.nl
Beekman
Aartjan T F
AT
Dik
Miranda G
MG
Bremmer
Marijke A
MA
Comijs
Hannie C
HC
Hoogendijk
Witte J G
WJ
Deeg
Dorly J H
DJ
Penninx
Brenda W J H
BW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001823:Body Composition; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors
D006854:Hydrocortisone