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The association between C-reactive protein concentration and depression in later life is due to poor physical health: results from the Health in Men Study (HIMS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2007

OSVALDO P. ALMEIDA ,
PAUL NORMAN ,
GRAEME J. HANKEY ,
KONRAD JAMROZIK  and
LEON FLICKER
OSVALDO P. ALMEIDA*
Affiliation:
WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital, Australia
PAUL NORMAN
Affiliation:
WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia School of Surgery and Pathology, University of Western Australia and Fremantle Hospital, Australia
GRAEME J. HANKEY
Affiliation:
WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital, Australia
KONRAD JAMROZIK
Affiliation:
School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia
LEON FLICKER
Affiliation:
WA Centre for Health and Ageing, University of Western Australia, Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence: Professor Osvaldo P. Almeida, WA Centre for Health and Ageing (M573), University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a non-specific marker of inflammation that has been associated with depression and vascular disease, particularly in men. This study aimed to investigate the association between high CRP concentration and depression while taking physical health into account.

Method

A cross-sectional study of a community-dwelling sample of 5438 men aged 70+. Participants with scores ⩾7 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were considered to display clinically significant depressive symptoms. We measured the serum concentration of CRP with a high-sensitivity assay. The assessment of physical co-morbidity included three components: the Charlson weighted index, self-report of major health events on a standardized questionnaire, and the physical component of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Other measured factors included age, native language, education, a standardized socio-economic index, smoking, prior or current history of depression treatment, cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination score <24) and body mass index (BMI).

Results

Participants with depression (n=340) were older than their controls without depression (age in years: 76·6±4·4 v. 75·4±4·1). Men with CRP concentration >3 mg/l had an increased odds ratio (OR) [1·59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·20–2·11] of being depressed compared to men with CRP ⩽3 mg/l. This association became non-significant once we adjusted the analysis for the measures of physical co-morbidity and other confounding factors (OR 1·22, 95% CI 0·86–1·73).

Conclusions

The physiological mechanisms that lead to the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms in older men remain to be determined, but CRP concentration is unlikely to play a significant role in that process.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 37 , Issue 12 , December 2007 , pp. 1775 - 1786
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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