Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. heikki.luukinen@oulu.fi
Abstract Background. High levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are associated with depressed mood, but the causal relationships are not known. Therefore, we examined the relationships between hs-CRP and incident depressed mood among the elderly. Methods. Altogether 764 (69%) individuals out of a representative sample of subjects aged 70 years or older (N = 1113) were screened with the Short Zung Self Rating Depression Scale (SZSRDS), and serum hs-CRP determinations were done at the same time. After a two-and-a-half-year follow-up, the SZSRDS examinations were repeated among those who were free of depressed mood (SZSRDS score >or=28 or use of an anti-depressant drug) at the baseline (N = 404). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and logistic regression were used to analyse the relationship between the baseline hs-CRP (