Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Obesity is linked to a low-grade and chronic systemic inflammation that improves after a significant weight loss. In the same way, depressive disorder has been suggested to be associated with systemic inflammation up regulation. We aimed to explore whether, after a significant weight loss, the presence of depressive symptoms was associated with differences in terms of inflammatory markers and quality of life compared with individuals without significant depressive symptoms.

Material and methods: Sixty patients (78.3%♀, age 46.35±9.89 and months since BS 46.28±18.1) who underwent BS, with a minimum follow up of 18 months, were evaluated cross-sectionally. Initial and current BMI, comorbidity, sociodemographic and biochemical parameters were recorded. For the screening of depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered. A score in BDI >16 was considered as positive for significant depression.

Results: At the time of the evaluation, ten subjects (16.6%) had a positive screening for depressive disorder. The percentage of patients with weight regain was greater among subjects with symptoms of depression (70 vs 32%; P=0.024) compared with subjects without significant depressive symptoms, although no differences were seen between the two groups regarding BMI prior to surgery and current BMI. Acute phase reactants were all significantly higher among subjects with positive screening for depression compared to normal individuals: platelet count (319 300±15 212×10⁹/l vs 231 700±46 794×10⁹/l; P=0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (24.7±11.28 vs 16.64±10.29 mm; P=0.03), fibrinogen (486±107 vs 406±66 mg/dl; P=0.003), ferritin (105.5±179.7 vs 33.74±44.12 ng/ml; P=0.014) and ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (0.96±1.84 vs 0.24±0.26 mg/dl; P=0.008). Also, all domains of quality of life were significantly lower in the depressive group.

Conclusions: Despite a significant weight loss, inflammatory markers are greater and quality of life lower when associated with depressive symptoms.