Hyperlipidemy in patients with major depressive disorder is associated with less severe depressive symptoms

*Dominika Berent¹, Agata Orzechowska², Marian Macander³

Summary
Introduction. There is a high comorbidity of depression and cardiovascular disease which implicates course and prognosis of both disorders. Accidentally discovered correlation between low cholesterol and suicidal behavior in non-depressed population triggered robust interesting on this issue in depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD) patients display disturbed lipoprotein pattern. It was hypothesized that cholesterol depletion counteract 5-HT(7) receptor-mediated intracellular signaling in the central nervous system which can result in depressive symptoms onset.
Aim. We aimed to assess the possible correlation between blood lipids (total cholesterol (TCh), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG)) and basic depression characteristics: current age, age at onset, disease duration, number of hospitalization, number of suicide attempts and HDRS(17) rating.
Material and methods. Thirty eight MDD patients admitted to the psychiatry ward were included into the study and evaluated for serum lipids levels, body mass index (BMI) and depression severity on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HRSD(17)). Patients with currently disturbed lipid serum levels (TCh > 200mg/dL or HDL < 35mg/dL or HDL < 23% or LDL > 150 mg/dL or TG > 190 mg/dL) or who had been already treated with statins were considered hyperlipidemic.
Results. There were no differences in basic depression characteristics, BMI and lipids serum concentrations when compared males and females. We found no significant correlation between BMI and basic depression characteristics. Blood lipids also showed no significant correlation, except for LDL. LDL concentrations were significantly higher in patients with longer disease duration (R = 0.41, p = 0.010). Patients with mixed hyperlipidemia scored significantly lover on HDRS(17) (Z = -2.05, p = 0.040).
Conclusions. We can carefully conclude that not only cholesterol, but also its fractions and triglycerides may impact on depression severity. Currently depressed patients, especially with less severe depressive symptoms, should be a particular subject of cardiovascular preventive strategies.

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