Lack of association between depression and C-reactive protein level in the baseline of Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).
Depression has been linked to increased levels of inflammatory markers in clinical studies, but results from general population samples are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate whether depression was associated with serum CRP levels in a cross-sectional analysis of a large cohort from a middle-income country.



We analyzed baseline data from 14,821 participants (35-74 years) of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Current depression (last 7 days) was assessed by the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). Because individuals on antidepressants could be negative on CIS-R due to their therapeutic effect, the explanatory variable had three categories: (1) negative on CIS-R and not using antidepressant (reference); (2) negative on CIS-R but using antidepressant; (3) positive on CIS-R with/without antidepressant use. Associations with CRP were investigated by general linear model (GLM).



After adjustments for confounders, neither current depression, nor antidepressant use was statistically associated with elevated CRP levels. Additionally, analyzes stratified by gender, type and severity of depression did not change the results.



The reference group in our analysis might include participants with a lifetime history of depression. Additionally, the exclusion of questions on weight fluctuation and appetite from the CIS-R applied in ELSA-Brasil may have slightly underestimated the prevalence of depression, as well as limited our ability to assess the presence of somatic symptoms.



This study found no association between current depression, use of antidepressants, and serum CRP levels.
Postgraduate Program in Sciences Applied to Adult Health Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Sara Teles
ST
de Menezes
Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil.
Roberta Carvalho
RC
de Figueiredo
Clinical Research Center and Epidemiology, Academic Hospital, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Alessandra Carvalho
AC
Goulart
Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Maria Angélica
MA
Nunes
Clinical Research Center and Epidemiology, Academic Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Isabela
I
M Benseñor
Department of Social Medicine Post-Graduate Program in Public Health, Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil.
Maria Carmen
MC
Viana
Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Professor Alfredo Balena, 190, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-100, Brazil. Electronic address: sbarreto@medicina.ufmg.br.
Sandhi Maria
SM
Barreto
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
Antidepressant; CRP levels; Depression; Inflammation