Insulin resistance and self-rated symptoms of depression in Swedish women with risk factors for diabetes: the Women's Health in the Lund Area study

Previous studies have suggested that depression increases the risk for diabetes and that this may be mediated through insulin resistance. The study aimed to analyze if self-rated symptoms of depression are related to insulin resistance among middle-aged and older Swedish women with features of the metabolic syndrome and being at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We analyzed data from 1047 Swedish women aged 50 to 64 years without a history of diabetes and living in the southern part of Sweden. A variable self-rated symptoms of depression (SRSD) was defined by using the Gothenburg Quality of Life instrument. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) to determine whether or not SRSD was associated with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. The variable SRSD was not associated with insulin resistance. However, it was positively associated with waist-hip ratio (OR, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.00) and negatively associated with physical exercise (OR, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.68) after multivariate adjustment. In conclusion, lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and abdominal obesity, but not insulin resistance, seem to be related to self-rated symptoms of depression in women with risk factors for diabetes mellitus. The relationship between insulin resistance and major depression needs to be further examined.