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Vallerand IA, Lewinson RT, Frolkis AD, Lowerison MW, Kaplan GG, Swain MG, Bulloch AGM, Patten SB, Barnabe C. Depression as a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based cohort study. RMD Open 2018; 4:e000670. [PMID: 30018804 PMCID: PMC6045711 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2018-000670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased levels of systemic proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha. As these cytokines are pathogenic in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), our aim was to explore on a population-level whether MDD increases the risk of developing RA. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database (from 1986 to 2012). Observation time was recorded for both the MDD and referent cohorts until patients developed RA or were censored. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk of developing RA among patients with MDD, accounting for age, sex, medical comorbidities, smoking, body mass index and antidepressant use. Results A cohort of 403 932 patients with MDD and a referent cohort of 5 339 399 patients without MDD were identified in THIN. Cox proportional hazards models revealed a 31% increased risk of developing RA among those with MDD in an unadjusted model (HR=1.31, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.36, p<0.0001). When adjusting for all covariates, the risk remained significantly increased among those with MDD (HR=1.38, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.46, p<0.0001). Antidepressant use demonstrated a confounding effect that was protective on the association between MDD and RA. Conclusion MDD increased the risk of developing RA by 38%, and antidepressants may decrease this risk in these patients. Future research is necessary to confirm the underlying mechanism of MDD on the pathogenesis of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle A Vallerand
- Leaders in Medicine Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ryan T Lewinson
- Leaders in Medicine Program, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexandra D Frolkis
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark W Lowerison
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gilaad G Kaplan
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark G Swain
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrew G M Bulloch
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott B Patten
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cheryl Barnabe
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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