title: Metabolic syndrome and elevated C-reactive protein levels in elderly patients with newly diagnosed depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and metabolic syndrome (MeS) are prevalent in elderly people and are associated with adverse outcomes, especially cardiovascular disease. Increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are a risk factor for depression and chronic medical disorders, such as cardiovascular disease and MeS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of MeS and CRP levels in elderly (>60y) patients with newly-diagnosed major depressive disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 30 subjects with newly diagnosed depression and 30 age- and sex-matched controls who presented for a health examination at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Sociodemographic, MeS components, and CRP were measured before starting treatment with antidepressants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics or lifestyle factors between depressive and healthy control patients. The newly-diagnosed depression group showed a significantly increased risk of MeS (odds ratio = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.58-14.25) compared with the control group. Of the 5 MeS components examined, only waist circumference was significantly different between the 2 groups (odds ratio = 4.33, 95% CI: 1.20-15.61). Elevated CRP levels were significantly associated with an increased risk for depression (odds ratio = 4.57, 95% 1.45-14.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risks of MeS and elevated CRP levels are higher in elderly patients with depression than in normal subjects. Physicians need to be alert to these cardiovascular risk factors when diagnosing and prescribing antidepressants for depression in the elderly. Clinical investigators are encouraged to assess markers of inflammation and review detailed information on risk factors such as waist circumference for MeS in patients with depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Stress Clinic, Health Promotion Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: j993601@empal.com.
authors.forename: Byungsu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein