title: Gender differences in the association between depressive symptoms and carotid atherosclerosis among middle-aged and older Koreans: the Namwon study.
abstract: We investigated the association of depressive symptoms with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaques in the general Korean population. A total of 7,554 Korean males and females aged 45-74 yr who were free from cardiovascular diseases were included in the analyses. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Subjects with a score of ≥16 were classified as having clinically significant depressive symptoms. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure mean carotid IMT (C-IMT) and to determine the presence of plaques. A significant association between depressive symptoms and C-IMT was observed only in females. After adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors, females with depressive symptoms had significantly greater C-IMT than females without depressive symptoms (mean difference 0.011±0.004 mm; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.019 mm). Compared with controls, the fully adjusted risk of females with depressive symptoms for abnormal C-IMT (≥1.0 mm) was significant (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.30). No significant association between depressive symptoms and carotid plaques was observed in either gender. This study shows a significant association between depressive symptoms and C-IMT in middle-aged and older females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea. ; Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1367-025X
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2217-5624
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9001-0365
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Sung
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0911-4576
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chonbuk National University Medical School-Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seul-Ki
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9868-621X
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong-Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8838-4894
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Woo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6150-3934
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. ; Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2378-8550
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D044466:Asian People; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Carotid Plaque Formation; Depression