Elevated thyroid stimulating hormone and metabolic syndrome risk in patients with first-episode and drug-naïve major depressive disorder: a large-scale cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in major depressive disorder (MDD), but its relationship with thyroid hormones remains unclear.

We aimed to examine the association of thyroid hormones and MetS in first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients.

METHODS: We recruited 1718 unmedicated MDD patients in this cross-sectional study.

MetS was defined based on the 2004 Chinese Diabetes Society Criteria.

Serum thyroid hormones including free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), and anti-thyroglobulin (TGAb) were examined.

We used the logistic regression model to determine risk factors for MetS and examined the performance of the regression model by using the Area Under the Curve (AUC).

In addition, we performed the trend test to test whether the results were robust.

RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS in unmedicated MDD patients was 34.4%.

MDD patients with MetS had higher levels of serum TSH, TGAb, and TPOAb (all P < 0.001).

Concurrently, serum TSH levels were independent risk factors for MetS in MDD patients (OR:1.49, 95%CI: 1.40–1.58), which could also distinguish MDD patients with and without MetS (AUC was 0.77).

Additionally, in the trend test, the results also indicated a similar trend when TSH was used as a categorical variable (P for trend < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that TSH levels were independent risk factors for MetS in FEDN MDD patients (OR:1.49).

The examination of thyroid function may contribute to the early detection of MetS.