Depression and anxiety both associate with serum level of hs-CRP: A gender-stratified analysis in a population-based study

Maryam Tayefi; Mojtaba Shafiee; Seyyed Mohammad Reza Kazemi-Bajestani; Habibolah Esmaeili; Susan Darroudi; Samaneh Khakpouri; Maryam Mohammadi; Zahra Ghaneifar; Mahmoud Reza Azarpajouh; Mohsen Moohebati; Alireza Heidari-Bakavoli; Mohammad Reza Parizadeh; Mohsen Nematy; Mohammad Safarian; Mahmoud Ebrahimi; Gordon A Ferns; Naghmeh Mokhber; Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.035

Depression and anxiety both associate with serum level of hs-CRP: A gender-stratified analysis in a population-based study

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Jul:81:63-69. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.035. Epub 2017 Apr 2.

Authors

Maryam Tayefi¹, Mojtaba Shafiee², Seyyed Mohammad Reza Kazemi-Bajestani³, Habibolah Esmaeili⁴, Susan Darroudi⁵, Samaneh Khakpouri², Maryam Mohammadi⁵, Zahra Ghaneifar¹, Mahmoud Reza Azarpajouh⁶, Mohsen Moohebati⁶, Alireza Heidari-Bakavoli⁶, Mohammad Reza Parizadeh¹, Mohsen Nematy², Mohammad Safarian², Mahmoud Ebrahimi⁶, Gordon A Ferns⁷, Naghmeh Mokhber⁸, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan⁹

Affiliations

¹ Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
² Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Health, Management & Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁵ Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁶ Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
⁷ Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK.
⁸ Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: Mokhbern@mums.ac.ir.
⁹ Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Electronic address: ghayourm@mums.ac.ir.

PMID: 28419913
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.035

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety are two important mood disorders that are frequently associated with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Hyper-inflammation is related to both CVDs and psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, inflammation may partially explain the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to perform a gender-stratified examination of the association between symptoms of depression/anxiety disorders and serum hs-CRP and inflammation linked conditions in a large Iranian population.

Methods: Symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders and serum hs-CRP levels were measured in 9759 participants (40% males and 60% females) aged 35-65 years, enrolled in a population-based cohort (MASHAD) study in north-eastern Iran. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated with Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. According to the scores of depression and anxiety, individuals were categorized into four groups of no or minimal, low, moderate and severe categories.

Results: The median serum hs-CRP concentration increased with increasing severity of depression and anxiety disorders. Male participants with severe depression had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP (p<0.001); however, this relationship was less marked among women (p=0.04). Subjects with severe anxiety also had significantly higher levels of hs-CRP (p<0.001). Moreover, women with severe depression and anxiety had higher BMI. There was also a positive association between current smoking habit and depression/anxiety disorders.

Conclusion: Depression and anxiety disorders are associated with elevated levels of hs-CRP, particularly among men. Also, there is a significant positive association between depression/anxiety disorders and inflammation linked conditions such as smoking and obesity; however, in the case of obesity this association is only present in women.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Inflammation; Obesity; Smoking.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Anxiety / metabolism*
C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
Case-Control Studies
Cohort Studies
Depression / metabolism*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Sex Factors

Substances

C-Reactive Protein