Depression as an important comorbidity of metabolic syndrome in a general population
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Depression increasingly appears as a comorbidity of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, whereas diabetes and metabolic syndrome may be associated with psychoactive drugs use. This study aimed to examine, in a representative sample of the general population, whether depression, anxiety and psychological distress were associated with metabolic syndrome and its components. To this end, three cross-sectional surveys including health measures were completed in rural regions of Australia during 2004-2006 and a stratified random sample of 1690 men and women was selected from the electoral roll. Metabolic syndrome was defined by NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria, anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and psychological distress by the Kessler 10 measure. Data analysis revealed that metabolic syndrome was associated with depression but not with psychological distress or anxiety. Subjects presenting with metabolic syndrome had higher scores for depression than those without metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, among metabolic syndrome components, waist circumference and low HDL cholesterol showed significant and independent associations with depression. Metabolic syndrome appears to be linked to depression, and this may have implications for the clinical management when depression is present in metabolic syndrome patients.
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