title: Late-life depression, cortisol, and the metabolic syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, A J Ernststraat 887, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.vogelzangs@ggzingeest.nl
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vogelzangs
authors.forename: Aartjan T F
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: Miranda G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dik
authors.forename: Marijke A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bremmer
authors.forename: Hannie C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Comijs
authors.forename: Witte J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hoogendijk
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.forename: Brenda W J H
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Penninx
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone