Components of the metabolic syndrome and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older people: the Bambuí Cohort Aging Study

Depressive symptoms and 5-year incident metabolic syndrome among older adults

Little is known regarding the association between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among older Chinese adults. This study aimed to examine the association of depressive symptoms with MetS and its components among Chinese elderly. Based on whether they showed depressive symptoms at baseline, 262 age-gender-matched participants from a community-based cohort study were included. The presence of depressive symptoms was measured using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Linear regression and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations of depressive symptoms with MetS and its components. The incidence of MetS among the participants with depressive symptoms at baseline was 15.27% (20/131). The association of the presence of depressive symptoms with MetS was significant (odds ratio [OR] = 2.53, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.07, 5.95). There was a negative association between depressive symptoms and hypertension (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.002, 0.98). The change in mean arterial pressure varies approximately 1.03 mmHg with a 1-point change in PHQ-9 score. In this study, baseline depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent MetS. The presence of depressive symptoms was negatively associated with elevated mean arterial pressure.

Associations between depressive symptom profiles and immunometabolic characteristics in individuals with depression and their siblings

OBJECTIVES

The present study examined associations between immunometabolic characteristics (IMCs) and depressive symptom profiles (DSPs) in probands with lifetime diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety disorders and their siblings.

METHODS

Data were from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, comprising 256 probands with lifetime diagnoses of depression and/or anxiety and their 380 siblings. Measured IMCs included blood pressure, waist circumference, and levels of glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6. DSPs included mood, cognitive, somatic and atypical-like profiles. We cross-sectionally examined whether DSPs were associated with IMCs within probands and within siblings, and whether DSPs were associated with IMCs between probands and siblings.

RESULTS

Within probands and within siblings, higher BMI and waist circumference were associated with higher somatic and atypical-like profiles. Other IMCs (IL-6, glucose and HDL cholesterol) were significantly related to DSPs either within probands or within siblings. DSPs and IMCs were not associated between probands and siblings.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that there is a familial component for each trait, but no common familial factors for the association between DSPs and IMCs. Alternative mechanisms, such as direct causal effects or non-shared environmental risk factors, may better fit these results.

Depressive Symptoms are Associated with High Levels of Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Fundamento

O Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 (DMT2) é comum nos idosos, que também apresentam um nível elevado de fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares (DCVs), tais como dislipidemia. Entretanto, o papel da depressão nos pacientes com DMT2 e sua relação com fatores de risco para DCV são pouco estudados.

Objetivo

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a relação entre sintomas depressivos (SDs) e fatores de risco cardiovascular conhecidos em idosos comunitários portadores de DMT2.

Métodos

Trata-se de um estudo transversal, no qual foram incluídos 85 idosos comunitários com DMT2. Os SDs foram avaliados através da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage, em versão reduzida (GDS-15). Os seguintes fatores de risco cardiovascular foram avaliados: pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD), glicose plasmática em jejum (GPJ), perfil lipídico (triglicerídeos séricos (TG), colesterol total sérico (CT), colesterol sérico de lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-C) e colesterol sérico de lipoproteína de baixa densidade (HDL-C)) e índice de massa corporal (IMC). A análise de regressão múltipla de Poisson foi utilizada para avaliar a associação entre os SDs e cada fator de risco cardiovascular ajustado por sexo, idade, tempo em atividades físicas moderadas e status funcional. O nível de significância adotado para a análise foi de 5%.

Resultados

Dentre todos os fatores de risco analisados, apenas o aumento de LDL-C apresentou uma correlação com níveis elevados de SD (RP=1,005; IC95% 1,002-1,008). Foi observada uma associação significativa entre os níveis de HDL-C (RP=0,99; IC95% 0,98-0,99) e a PAS (RP=1,009; IC95% 1,004-1,014).

Conclusão

Nos idosos com DMT2, a presença de SD foi associada a níveis de LDL-C, HDL-C e PAS, mesmo após o ajuste por sexo, idade, nível de atividade física e capacidade funcional. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(3):462-467)

Depression and metabolic syndrome in the older population: A review of evidence

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been shown to be associated with depression in older adults but the results are mixed. We summarized and evaluated the association between depression and MetS in people aged 60 years or over.

METHODS

Relevant published studies from January 1997 to July 2017 were identified by searching two electronic databases: PubMed/Medline and EMBASE. Observational studies were considered.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in the systematic review. Depression seemed to be related with MetS in the majority of the studies (10/12 = 83.3%). As far as the longitudinal studies are concerned, the onset of depression was related to MetS in 2 out of 3 studies (66.6%), while a relation between chronicity of depression and MetS was reported (1 study). Regarding cross-sectional studies, 7 out of 9 (77.7%) concluded that there was a positive association between depression and MetS. Mixed evidence was found among studies concerning the association between depression and the individual components of MetS. Four out of ten studies (40%) reported that depression was significantly associated with the waist circumference, a component of MetS.

LIMITATIONS

There was a high degree of heterogeneity between studies regarding their design. Only studies written in English, from peer-reviewed journals were included.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression seemed to be significantly associated with MetS in people aged 60 years or over. Among the components of MetS, abdominal obesity seemed to be associated more strongly and consistently with depression. The direction of the causality and mechanisms underlying the relationship are still largely unknown.

The association between insulin resistance, metabolic variables, and depressive symptoms in Mexican-American elderly: A population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Depressive symptoms are common among older adults with obesity and diabetes. Nonetheless, the mechanisms for this association are not clear but may involve changes in the insulin cascade signaling. We aimed to investigate the association, and potential mediators, between obesity, insulin resistance, and depressive symptoms among older adults from a homogenous cohort of Mexican-Americans.

METHODS

We included a total of 500 Mexican-American older adults assessed in the Cameron County Health Study. We evaluated depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Survey Depression Scale (CES-D). Central obesity was defined by waist circumference. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the HOMA-IR index. We estimated the association between obesity, insulin resistance, and depressive symptoms by carrying out univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

RESULTS

In unadjusted regression analysis, HOMA-IR (unstandardized β = 0.31 ± 0.12, P = 0.007), waist circumference (unstandardized β = 0.066 ± 0.0.028, P = 0.017), and Hb1Ac levels (unstandardized β = 0.52 ± 0.24, P = 0.03) were significantly associated with CES-D scores. The association of HOMA-IR and CES-D remained statistically significant after controlling for socio-demographic and clinical variables in multivariate analysis (unstandardized β = 0.28 ± 0.11, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that depressive symptoms are associated with insulin resistance in older Mexican-American adults. In addition, poorer glucose control and obesity are important mediators of this relationship. Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether interventions that increase insulin sensitivity can also reduce depressive symptoms in this population.

Increased prevalence of depression and anxiety among subjects with metabolic syndrome and known type 2 diabetes mellitus - a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The MetS and its elements have been linked to anxiety and depressive disorders. The aim of the current cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety, measured by the Zung Self-Rating Scale in subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 2111 adults were included, 1155 female, age 47.6 (13.7) and 956 male, age 45.2 (13.5). All participants filled questionnaires covering current and past disorders and medication, smoking and family history. Zung self-rating depression and anxiety scales were completed. Body weight, height and waist circumference were measured, BMI was calculated, serum glucose and lipids were measured.

RESULTS

Depression (SDSi) and anxiety scores (SASi) were higher in the females and increased with age (p < 0.001). SDSi was higher in the females and males with metabolic syndrome (MetS) (50.9 ± 9.8 vs. 45.9 ± 8.9, p < 0.001 and 42.7 ± 9.2 vs. 40.5 ± 7.9 p < 0.001, respectively). SASi was higher in the MetS subjects (females 50.59 ± 11.35 vs. 45.97 ± 10.58, p < 0.001; males 40.48 ± 10.1 vs. 38.04 ± 8.42, p < 0.001). Both SDSi and SASi were higher in the subjects with known diabetes than in those with normal glucose tolerance (Mann-Whitney both p < 0,001). Positive depressive scores were more prevalent in subjects with MetS than those without (females 54% vs. 31.6%, p < 0.001; males 22.7% vs. 12.3%, p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were more prevalent in the subjects with known diabetes than in those with normal glucose tolerance but not in the newly-diagnosed diabetes. The OR for depressiveness was 2.0 (1.3; 2.6) in subjects with MetS and 4.2 (2.3; 7.8) in those with known diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, depressiveness and anxiety were associated positively with age and female gender and were more prevalent among subjects with MetS and known diabetes mellitus.