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Depression and C-Reactive Protein: Population-Based Health 2000 Study

National Institute for Health and Welfare (M.E., A.-M.A., S.P., J.S., A.R.), Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (M.K.), Helsinki, Finland; and University College London, UK, and University of Helsinki (M.E., M.K.).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marko Elovainio, National Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, Fin-00271 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: marko.elovainio{at}healsinki.fi

Objective: To test whether depression is independently associated with elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in a large nationwide population-based sample.

Methods: Depression and CRP were assessed in 6005 Finns aged >30 years, as part of the ongoing population-based Health 2000 Study. Depression was determined by responses to the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and by Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Results: Higher scores on BDI-21 were related to higher CRP levels (β = 0.12, p < .001) in men and (β = 0.08, p < .001) in women. In men, but not in women, this relationship persisted after adjustment for a number of other known risk factors. In men, the more recent dysthymic disorder or at least moderate depressive episode defined using CIDI was related to elevated CRP levels (β = 0.06, p = .006).

Conclusions: Depressive symptoms may be partly responsible for inflammatory processes, and inflammatory processes may induce depressive symptoms in men.

Key Words: depression • CRP • inflammation • BDI • psychosocial factors • CIDI

Abbreviations: CRP = C-reactive protein; LDL = low-density lipoprotein; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; CHD = cardiovascular heart disease.