Depressive symptoms and insulin resistance in young adult males: results from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort

Abstract

The association between insulin resistance (IR) and depression is a subject of growing research interest, especially as previous population-based studies have presented conflicting findings. The present study extends our understanding about the putative impact of the severity of depressive symptoms on this association and it provides further epidemiological evidence in support of earlier findings, suggesting that the association between IR and depression is present already in young adult males. To determine the impact of the severity of depressive symptoms on the putative association between IR and depression in young adult males, we were given access to the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort database. During the 31-year follow-up survey of this genetically homogeneous birth cohort, IR was assessed by 'Qualitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index' (QUICKI), and severity of depressive symptoms by 'Hopkins' Symptom Checklist-25' (HSCL-25). This study involved 2609 male cohort members with complete variable information. In men, the means of the QUICKI-values decreased (i.e., IR increased) in line with the increased severity of depressive symptoms as assessed by HSCL-25 subgroups (analysis of covariance P-value for trend, P = 0.003). In multivariate generalized logistic regression analyses, after adjusting for confounders, IR was positively associated with current severe depressive symptoms, the odds ratio (OR) being over threefold (adjusted OR 3.15, 95% confidence interval 1.48-6.68) and the value of OR increased in parallel with a tighter definition of IR (P-value for trend = 0.007). The results indicate that in young males, a positive association exists specifically with severe depressive symptoms. Molecular Psychiatry (2006) 11, 929-933.

Association of Depression With Accelerated Cognitive Decline Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in the ACCORD-MIND Trial

“…Each of these may contribute to the increased risk of dementia seen in patients with diabetes who are also depressed. Both depression and type 2 diabetes are also associated with signs of systemic inflammation 33, 34 , decreased insulin sensitivity 34, 35 , and autonomic dysfunction 36, 37 , which may mediate the effects of depression on dementia risk. Studies of the increased risk for mortality and repeat cardiac events in patients with depression following myocardial infarction have suggested that most of this effect is due to health behavior, specifically physical activity and medication adherence.…”

A Review of the Association Between Depression and Insulin Resistance: Pitfalls of Secondary Analyses or a Promising New Approach to Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes?

“…The association between depression and risk of IR was examined in 2,609 men from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort [8], and it was found that IR (QUICKI) was positively associated with current severe depression after controlling for body mass index. However, one of the limitations was the use of the Hopkins' Symptom Checklist-25 method, another selfreport measure of depression.…”

“…Two cross-sectional studies were conducted by Timonen et al [8,9] in Finnish samples. The association between depression and risk of IR was examined in 2,609 men from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort [8], and it was found that IR (QUICKI) was positively associated with current severe depression after controlling for body mass index.…”

Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder Predispose Youth to Accelerated Atherosclerosis and Early Cardiovascular Disease

“…65 Moreover, among young adult males in 2 Finnish population samples, severity of depressive symptoms was associated with insulin resistance. 66,67 In meta-analytic findings, depressive symptoms along with other psychological symptoms were more common among children with versus without T2DM, 68 and there was preliminary evidence that the association between depression and T2DM was especially strong in youth. 69 There is pharmacoepidemiological evidence of elevated rates of hyperglycemia and †"Youth" is used in this statement as an umbrella term for children, adolescents, and/or young adults (defined here as mean sample age within 1 standard deviation of 30 years).…”