title: Relationships between Depressive Symptoms and Endothelial Function Among Outpatients of a General Hospital in China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to investigate the endothelial function by reactive hyperemia index (RHI) in patients with depression, subjects recovering from depression, and subjects without a history of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients were recruited from a general hospital in China; 62 patients diagnosed with depression and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD17) total scores ≥17 were enrolled as the depression group, 62 patients with a history of depression, discontinuation of antidepressants therapy at least 3 months ago, and HAMD17 ≤7 were recruited as remission group, and 62 subjects without a history of depression served as the control group (HAMD17 ≤7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean RHI was 1.93, 2.34, and 2.19 in depression, control, and remission groups, respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups (P=0.0004). In addition, a marked difference in RHI was found between depression and control groups (P=0.0003) and between depression and remission groups (P=0.0270). However, there was no significant difference between remission and control groups (P=0.3363).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a relationship between depression and endothelial dysfunction in outpatients from a general hospital in China. The improvement of depression is synchronous with the improvement of endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Depression Treatment Center, Beijing An Ding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: National Center for Public Health Surveillance and Information Services, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guoshuang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nosocomial Infection Prevention and Control, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Chunlian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Center, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guangzhen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yongdong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Depression Treatment Center, Beijing An Ding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence