Influence of Serum Levels of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies, Age and Gender on Depression as Measured by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

Alexander D. Shinkov1 / Anna-Maria I. Borisova1 / Russanka D. Kovacheva1 / Yordan D. Vlahov1 / Lilia N. Dakovska1 / Iliana D. Atanassova1 / Polina L. Petkova2 / Nina L. Aslanova1 / Mircho I. Vukov3
1Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia
2Department of Psychology, Varna Free University, Varna
3National Center of Public Health and Analysis, Ministry of Health, Sofia, Bulgaria
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© Folia Medica
Citation Information: Folia Medica. Volume 56, Issue 1, Pages 24–31, ISSN (Online) 1314-2143, ISSN (Print) 0204-8043, DOI: 10.2478/folmed-2014-0004, April 2014
Publication History:
Published Online:
2014-04-23

ABSTRACT

The AIM of the present study was to explore the level of depression in the respondents using the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) and find a correlation with the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and the anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), the age and gender of the participants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 2401 subjects aged 20-84 yrs were included, 1344 of them female aged 48.7 ± 14.4 yrs and 1057 male, aged 46.5 ± 14.5 yrs (p < 0.001). All participants completed the Zung SDS questionnaire and a depressive score was calculated and interpreted as follows: less than 49 points - no depression, between 50 and 59 points - mild depression, between 60 and 69 points - moderate depression and more than 69 points - severe depression. Body height and weight were measured and serum TSH and Anti-TPO were determined. RESULTS: SDS was higher in the females (47.6 ± 9.7 vs. 41.7 ± 8.6, p < 0.001) and correlated with the subjects’ age (Spearman’s ρfemale = 0.447, p < 0.001, ρmale = 0.402, p < 0.001). Depression was more prevalent in the females (all p < 0.001) with hypothyroidism than in the euthyroid subjects (odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.15-2.80, p < 0.011). The odds ratio for depression was 3.47 (2.64-4.57) for the female gender and the risk of depression increased by 6% (5 - 7) with each added year of age. The anti-TPO, BMI and waist circumference did not influence the regression models. CONCLUSION: The depressive score was higher in the females and increased with age. Hypothyroidism determined a higher risk of depression in the females