Metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance and depression are both considered important cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to ascertain a possible association between these conditions in a population sample of 116 subjects (54 males, 62 females, aged 60 +/- 8 and 60 +/- 9 years, respectively). A standard questionnaire-the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale-was used for the assessment of depressive disorder and clinical definition of insulin resistance, requiring the presence of three or more of the following factors: triglycerides > 1.7 mmol/L; and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 1.0 mmol/L; blood pressure >/= 130/85 mm Hg; waist circumference > 102 cm in males and > 88 cm in females; fasting glucose 6.1-7.8 mmol/L. Depressive disorders prevailed significantly more in women than in men (39% and 26%, respectively), and prevalence of depression in subjects with metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance (by definition) was about four times higher than in subjects without depression. Depressive subjects had also higher heart rate, waist circumference, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, higher triglycerides, and higher body mass index. Higher sympathetic nervous activity in insulin-resistant subjects with depression was indicated.