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Comparative Study
. 2013 Aug;37 Suppl 1(0 1):S38-43.
doi: 10.1038/ijo.2013.95.

Gender differences in the relationship between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP

M L Vetter  1 , T A Wadden, C Vinnard, R H Moore, Z Khan, S Volger, D B Sarwer, L F Faulconbridge; POWER-UP Research Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Comparative Study

Gender differences in the relationship between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP

M L Vetter et al. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Depression has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) has also been identified as an independent predictor of short- and long-term cardiovascular disease events. Inflammation may influence the relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between symptoms of depression and high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in an obese clinical population. We also sought to determine whether this relationship was different in men and women, given prior reports of a gender effect.

Methods: Symptoms of depression and hs-CRP were measured in 390 participants enrolled in a weight loss intervention trial that was delivered in a primary care setting. Symptoms of depression were evaluated with the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), in which a score ≥ 10 is consistent with major depression.

Results: A total of 58 (15.2%) participants reported a PHQ-8 score ≥ 10. The median (interquartile range) hs-CRP concentration was significantly higher in participants with symptoms consistent with major depression (7.7 (4.2-13) mg l(-1)) compared with those without depression (5.1 (3-9.7) mg l(-1); P<0.01). Symptoms consistent with major depression were significantly associated with log-transformed hs-CRP concentrations in an analysis adjusted for age, gender, obesity class and other metabolic variables (P=0.04). When interaction by gender was examined, this relationship remained significant in men (P<0.01) but not in women (P=0.32).

Conclusions: Symptoms consistent with major depression were significantly associated with hs-CRP in men only, even after adjusting for age, obesity class, metabolic variables and medications known to affect inflammation. This finding suggests that there are biologic differences between men and women that may modify the relationship between hs-CRP and depression. Further studies are needed to elucidate the biologic basis for these findings.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Thomas Wadden serves on the advisory boards of Novo Nordisk and Orexigen Therapeutics, which are developing weight loss medications, as well as of Alere and the Cardiometabolic Support Network, both of which provide behavioral weight loss programs. David Sarwer discloses relationships with the following companies: Allergan, BaroNova, Enteromedics, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, and Galderma. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between raw PHQ-8 scores and hs-CRP.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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