Background
Shortened telomere length has been associated with mortality in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and is considered an emerging marker of biological age. Whether short telomere length is associated with depression in patients with CHD has not been evaluated.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study of 952 outpatients with stable CHD, we ascertained the presence of major depressive disorder using the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Relative mean telomere length was measured from leukocyte DNA using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. We examined the association between depression and leukocyte telomere length using linear and logistic regression models.
Results
Of the 952 participants, 206 (22%) had current (past month) depression. Patients with depression had lower mean ± SE telomere length than those without depression (
Table
). Likewise, patients with MDD had a 70% greater odds of having telomere length in the lowest vs. highest quartile (adjusted OR 1.70. 95% CI, 1.05-2.76; p=0.03).
Conclusion
Major depressive disorder is associated with reduced leukocyte telomere length in patients with stable CHD. The potential mechanisms underlying this association deserve further study.
Mean +/- SE telomere length by presence of major depressive disorder
Adjusted for
Current major depression N=206
No current major depression N=746
P value
age, sex
0.86±0.02
0.90±0.1
.02
age, sex, diabetes, BMI, smoking
0.86±0.02
0.89±0.01
.04
age, sex, diabetes, BMI, smoking, LVEF, statin use
0.85±0.02
0.89±0.01
.03
Telomere length and telomerase in a well-characterized sample of individuals with major depressive disorder compared to controls
