Depression and Cardiovascular Risk - Association Among Beck Depression Inventory, PCSK9 Levels and Insulin Resistance

• Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology
• Main Authors: Macchi, Chiara, Favero, Chiara, Ceresa, Alessandro, Vigna, Luisella, Conti, Diana Misaela, Pesatori, Angela Cecilia, Racagni, Girogio, Corsini, Alberto, Ferri, Nicola, Sirtori, Cesare Riccardo, Buoli, Massimiliano, Bollati, Valentina, Ruscica, Massimiliano
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Durham Research Square 19.10.2020
• Subjects: Diabetes; Insulin resistance; Mental depression
• DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-56070/v2

Background. Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are among the most common causes of disability in high-income countries, depression being associated with a 30% increased risk of future CV events. Depression is twice as common in people with diabetes and is associated with a 60% rise in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, an independent CVD risk factor. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a key regulator of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, has been related to a large number of CV risk factors, including insulin resistance. Aim of this study was to investigate whether in a population of obese subjects, more susceptible to depressive symptoms, the presence of depression could affect PCSK9 levels and how these changes may mediate a pre-diabetic risk. Results. In 389 obese individuals, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was significantly associated with PCSK9 levels. For every one-unit increment in BDI-II score, PCSK9 rose by 1.85 ng/mL. Depression was associated also with the HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment index of insulin resistance), 11% of this effect operating indirectly via PCSK9. Conclusions. This study indicates a possible mechanism linking depression and insulin resistance, a well-known CV risk factor, providing evidence for a significant role of PCSK9.