Psychosocial risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in elderly persons: Findings from the health, aging and body composition study

Background. Psychosocial factors have been associated with metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study investigated the cross-sectional relationship between psychosocial risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in a community-based sample of older persons. Methods. Participants were 2917 persons aged 70-79 years enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, negative life events, and inadequate emotional support were assessed, and a summary psychosocial risk index was calculated. Metabolic syndrome was defined as three or more of the following criteria: abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high fasting glucose, and high blood pressure. Results. Negative life events and inadequate emotional support increased the odds of having metabolic syndrome after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle variables (odds ratio [OR] per life event = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.22; OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.10-1.66, respectively). The relationship between depressive symptoms and metabolic syndrome was only found in white (OR per standard deviation [SD]= 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01-1.23), but not in black (OR per SD = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.86-1.11) persons. Anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in men (OR per SD = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.00-1.28), but not in women (OR per SD = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.89-1.08). Moreover, a higher score on the psychosocial risk index was associated with an increased probability of having the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.12-1.52). Conclusions. In the elderly population, different psychosocial risk factors are associated with a higher prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Whether reduction or better management of psychosocial risk factors can improve the metabolic profile remains to be demonstrated

Associations between sex steroid hormone levels and depressive symptoms in elderly men and women: Results from the Health ABC study

Introduction: Sex steroid hormone levels decline with age and in some studies this decline has been linked with depressive symptoms. This study investigates the association between total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEAS levels with depressive symptoms in a well-functioning elderly population. Methods: Data are from 2855 well-functioning elderly men and women, 70-79 years of age, participating in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHEAS levels were assessed after an overnight fast. Results: In men and women, DHEAS levels and depressive symptoms were inversely associated after adjustment for covariates (men: β=-0.059, p=0.03, women: β=-0.054, p=0.05). In addition, free testosterone levels in women, but not in men, were inversely associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted β=-0.079, p=0.004). Men, but not women, in the lowest total testosterone quartile reported significantly more depressive symptoms than men in the other total testosterone quartiles (adjusted β=-0.166, p=0.04). Discussion: Our study is consistent with the idea that testosterone and DHEAS levels may play a role in mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms in old age