Abstract
BackgroundUncertainty still surrounds the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depression. We aimed to evaluate the association between MetS and elevated depressive symptoms in a general Japanese population.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional survey of 3,113 community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years or over. MetS was defined according to the joint interim statement. MetS was diagnosed when a subject had three or more of the following components: 1) central obesity (waist circumference ≥90 cm for men, ≥80 cm in for women); 2) elevated blood pressure (≥130/85 mmHg or current use of antihypertensive medication); 3) hypertriglyceridemia (≥1.7 mmol/L); 4) low HDL cholesterol (< 1.0 mmol/L for men, < 1.3 mmol/L for women); and 5) elevated fasting plasma glucose (≥5.55 mmol/L or current use of antidiabetic medication). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The age- and multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using a logistic regression model.ResultsElevated depressive symptoms were observed in 4.3% of male and 6.3% of female participants. In men, the age-adjusted prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was significantly higher in subjects with MetS than in those without (7.1% versus 3.6%, p = 0.04). The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms rose progressively as the number of MetS components increased (3.5%, 3.6%, 5.8%, and 9.2% in male subjects with 0–1, 2, 3, and ≥4 components, respectively; p = 0.02 for trend). This association remained significant even after adjustment for age, marital status, history of cardiovascular disease, smoking habit, alcohol intake, and regular exercise. In women, on the other hand, there was no clear association between MetS and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsMetS was associated with elevated depressive symptoms in a general population of Japanese men.
Highlights
Uncertainty still surrounds the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depression
The age-adjusted prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was higher in men with low High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and men with elevated fasting plasma glucose (1.90 [95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.06-3.42])
These associations remained significant even after controlling for age, marital status, history of cardiovascular disease, smoking habit, alcohol intake, and regular exercise
Summary
Uncertainty still surrounds the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depression. We aimed to evaluate the association between MetS and elevated depressive symptoms in a general Japanese population. Depression is an important cause of long-term disability and dependency and is responsible for 11.8% of yearslived-with-disability [1,2]. Effective prevention of the burdens associated with depression will require a strategy based on better knowledge of its risk factors. A systematic review of observational studies demonstrated a link between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and depressive symptoms [3]. Current knowledge of the association between MetS and depressive symptoms was derived mainly from studies conducted in Western populations; so it is unclear to what extent these findings apply to Asian populations.
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