eScholarship@UMMS

Title

Association between Depression and C-Reactive Protein

Authors

Yunsheng Ma, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
David E. Chiriboga, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Sherry L. Pagoto, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Milagros C. Rosal, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Wenjun Li, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Philip A. Merriam, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
James R. Hebert, University of South Carolina
Matthew Whited, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow
Ira S. Ockene, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolFollow

UMMS Affiliation

Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

Publication Date

2011-1

Document Type

Article

Subjects

C-Reactive Protein; Depression; Sex Factors; Longitudinal Studies

Disciplines

Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Cardiovascular Diseases | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Preventive Medicine

Abstract

Objective: Depression has been associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, and a depression–related elevation of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been proposed as a possible mechanism. The objective of this study was to examine association between 27 depression and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Methods: Subjects consisted of 508 healthy adults (mean age 48.5 years; 49% women, 88% white) residing in central Massachusetts. Data were collected at baseline and at quarterly intervals over a one-year period per individual. Multivariable linear mixed models were used to assess the association for the entire sample and by gender.

Results: The mean Beck Depression Inventory score was 5.8 (standard deviation (SD) 5.4; median 4.3), and average serum hs-CRP was 1.8 mg/L (SD 1.7; median 1.2). Results from the multivariable linear mixed models show that individuals with higher depression scores have higher levels of hs-CRP. Analyses by gender show persistence of an independent association among women, but not among men. Body mass index (BMI=weight(kg)/height(m)2) appears to be a partial mediator of this relationship.

Conclusion: Depression score was correlated to hs-CRP levels in women. Further studies are required to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these associations and their implications.

Rights and Permissions

Copyright © 2011 Yunsheng Ma et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

DOI of Published Version

10.4061/2011/286509

Source

Yunsheng Ma, David E. Chiriboga, Sherry L. Pagoto, et al.; Association between Depression and C-Reactive Protein,” Cardiology Research and Practice, vol. 2011, Article ID 286509, 8 pages, 2011. doi:10.4061/2011/286509. Link to article on publisher's website

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Cardiology Research and Practice

Repository Citation

Ma, Yunsheng; Chiriboga, David E.; Pagoto, Sherry L.; Rosal, Milagros C.; Li, Wenjun; Merriam, Philip A.; Hebert, James R.; Whited, Matthew; and Ockene, Ira S., "Association between Depression and C-Reactive Protein" (2011). Preventive and Behavioral Medicine Publications. 126.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/prevbeh_pp/126