Does the moderator matter? Identification of multiple moderators of the association between peripheral inflammatory markers and depression severity in a large racially diverse community cohort.

Depressive symptomology has been linked to low-grade peripheral inflammatory markers (PIMs), specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC). However, such associations may be affected by multiple moderators (including race/ethnicity), though few well-powered and racially diverse studies have examined this. We examined 31 moderators of PIM-depression relationships in a large racially diverse cohort (n = 21,570).

The association of physical illness and low-grade inflammatory markers with depressive symptoms in a large NHANES community sample: Dissecting mediating and moderating effects.

Background: Both low-grade elevation in peripheral inflammatory markers (e.g., white blood count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP)) and physical illness (both chronic and acute) have been associated with depressive symptomology.