Background:  Depression is one of the highly prevalent disorders in elderly people and leads to an increased risk of mortality. Depressive illness is projected to be the second leading cause of disease burden after ischemic heart disease. Inflammation and depressive symptoms seem to be associated in large epidemiological cross-sectional studies. Among a lot of inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a specific inflammatory marker.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between the serum level of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and depressive symptoms in the geriatric population.

Material and Methods: The study was carried out on 100 subjects (from both sexes (male and female) aged 60 years or older) divided into Group I (Control): including 50 subjects healthy volunteers, Group II (Depressed patients): including 50 patients who must fulfill a score of 5 or more over 15 of the Geriatric Depression Scale-short Form (GDS-15) and a score of 10 or more over 27 of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

Results: hs-CRP levels in group II (cases) ranged from 0.67 – to 7.0. with a mean value (S.D) of 2.44 ± 1.91. hs-CRP among group I (control) ranged from 0.34 – 0.99 with a mean value (S. D) of 0.66 ± 0.18. hs-CRP was insignificantly higher among the cases group (p <0.001)

Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference between the serum levels of hs-CRP in group II (cases) and group I (control).

Keywords: Depression; Inflammation; High-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP). 

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Salwa Mohamed Mahmoud, MBBCh, Alex.

Resident, Ministry of Health Hospitals, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt