Comparison of frontal QRS-T angle and inflammatory parameters in patients with major depressive disorder and healthy controls

Abstract

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is known as risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease in drug-naive patients diagnosed with MDD by evaluating frontal QRS-T angle (fQRS-T) and laboratory parameters.

Subjects and methods: Fifty-nine MDD patients (28 females, 31 males) and 61 healthy controls (HC) (39 females, 22 males) were included in the study. Electrocardiography (ECG), lipid parameters, hemogram, and biochemistry values of the participants were taken. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used to determine the severity of MDD. Monocyte lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte high density cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR), and C-reactive protein albumin ratio (CAR) were calculated.

Results: The mean age was 34.54±7.10 years in the MDD group and 32.80±6.78 years in the HC group. The fQRS-T value (p<0.001) was significantly higher in the MDD group than in the HC group. MLR (p<0.001), NLR (p<0.001), and PLR values (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the MDD group than in the HC group. A significant positive correlation was found between MLR, NLR, PLR, HDRS and fQRS-T angle in the MDD group. According to the linear regression analysis for fQRS-T, NLR positively and significantly predict fQRS-T [F=34.700, p<0.001, adjusted R square=0.635].

Conclusion: This current study is the first to show that there is a significant positive relationship between NLR, MLR, PLR levels and depression severity and fQRS-T angle in patients diagnosed with MDD.

Keywords: Major depressive disorder; cardiovascular disease; electrocardiogram; inflammation.