Prevalence and clinical correlates of abnormal glucose metabolism in young, first- episode and medication-naïve outpatients with major depressive disorder

Abstract

BackgroundsThe high co-morbidity of abnormal glucose metabolism in depressed patients has been extensively studied, but few studies have explored abnormal glucose metabolism in young patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to examine the prevalence and clinical correlates of abnormal glucose metabolism in young patients with first-episode medication-naïve (FEMN) MDD. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 young Chinese outpatients with FEMN MDD. All subjects were assessed on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and their sociodemographic information was collected, and blood pressure, blood glucose, lipid and thyroid hormone levels were measured. ResultsThe prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism was 12.57% in young FEMN MDD outpatients. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and HAMA scale scores were associated with fasting blood glucose levels in patients with FEMN MDD (P<0.05), and TSH could differentiate patients with abnormal normal glucose metabolism from those without abnormal glucose metabolism (Area Under Curve of 0.774). ConclusionsOur study showed a high prevalence of comorbid glucose metabolism abnormalities in young FEMN MDD outpatients. TSH may be a promising biomarker of abnormal glucose metabolism in young patients with FEMN MDD.