C reactive protein in women with coronary heart disease and its association with depression

Objectives: Depression is associated with increased risk and poor outcome of coronary heart disease (CHD), though the mechanisms are largely unknown. Low-grade inflammation offers a possible biological pathway, which has been confirmed in men but not in women. Methods: We studied the association of C reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of inflammation, with depressive symptoms in 292 women with CHD and 300 healthy age-matched controls, considering confounder variables (BMI, age, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, menopausal status). CRP was measured by a high sensitivity assay. Results: In the overall sample no significant association was found between depressive symptoms and CRP, whereas in the control group women with 2 or more versus 0-1 depressive symptoms showed heightened CRP (p = 0.005); there was no significant difference in CRP levels between CHD patients with 0-1 versus 2 or more depressive symptoms. Women with CH D had higher serum levels of CRP and more depressive symptoms than did controls (both p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Contrary to men and healthy controls there was no link between CRP and depressive symptoms in women with CHD. More research is needed on how the harmful effects of depression are mediated, especially in women.