Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in elderly patients with unipolar depression - case control analysis.

Aim: C-reactive protein (CRP) is the major acute-phase plasma protein. Studies show that patients with depression have elevated levels of CRP. The aim of the study was to determine differences in CRP serum level in elderly patients with unipolar depression (DEP) compared with non-depressed elderly patients (nonDEP) using case-control analysis.

Methods: Serum level of CRP was measured in 404 (DEP: n = 202, nonDEP: n = 202) Caucasian inpatients aged ≥60 (350 women, 86.7%; mean age = 76.7 years).

Results: Mean CRP level in the study groups was: DEP 2.67 ± 2.56 mg/dL, nonDEP 2.41 ± 2.19 mg/dL, the difference was not significant (p = 0.96). The overall rate of being above the high level of CRP (set at 3.0 mg/L) was 33.2% for DEP and 29.2% for nonDEP groups (p = 0.39). It was also found that, in the whole study group, CRP level was not correlated with age (p = 0.10).

Conclusions: Elderly patients with depression have no increased CRP levels. A high percentage (∼30%) of all subjects had a CRP level >3 mg/L, which is the cut-off point for increased cardiovascular risk.