Association between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in patients with metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic dysregulation is intimately associated with wide array of seemingly unrelated disorders, including cognitive impairment and depression. The aim was: to identify special characteristic features of depressive disorder in patients with metabolic syndrome (Mets); to identify possible association between depressive disorder (DD) and cognitive impairment in patients with Mets; to establish whether metabolic syndrome and its components are associated with severity of DD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 108 patients with depressive disorders aged from 45 to 84 years. All patients were divided into two groups: main- with Mets (n=60) and control - without metabolic syndrome (n=48), comparable for age, sex and level of education. The examination consisted of physical and neurological examination and the application of neuropsychological tests (Mini-Mental State Examination/MMSE, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale / HAM-D) magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests.

RESULTS: It has been found more pronounced severity of depressive disorder (DD) in patients with Mets compared with patients without it (p<0,05). In the group of patients with Mets there was significantly higher incidence of somatic anxiety (p <0,01), hypochondria (p <0,05), reduced criticality (p <0,05) compared with patients without Mets. It has been found significantly higher incidence of dementia in patients with DD and Mets comparing with patients with DD without Mets (p<0,05). Statistically significant negative correlation was found between the total score on the Hamilton scale and the total MMSE score (r = -0,56, p <0.05) only in the group of patients with Mets. Of all Mets components a reliable positive correlation was found only between high triglyceride levels of blood and the total Hamilton scale score (rs = 0,27).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the mounting evidence that links depression and Mets. Some specific features of DD in patients with MetS were established. The severity of DD was significantly associated with severity of cognitive impairment in patients with Mets. Of all components of Mets, only elevated levels of triglycerides of blood was significantly associated with the severity of DD in our maim group of patients.