hs-CRP Predicts Improvement in Depression in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Major Depression Undergoing Depression Treatment: Results From the Diabetes and Depression (DAD) Study

hs-CRP is elevated in depression (1), but evidence on decreases of hs-CRP during depression treatment or the role of hs-CRP in the prediction of response to depression treatment is still controversial (2,3). To date, no study has examined this association in patients with diabetes. As elevated hs-CRP increases the risk of diabetes complications in diabetes (4), we aimed to explore hs-CRP in patients with diabetes and major depression undergoing depression treatment based on the data of the Diabetes and Depression (DAD) study (5). Participants were randomized to 12 weeks (short-term phase) of diabetes-specific group cognitive behavioral therapy or sertraline treatment and followed up for 15 months (long-term phase). hs-CRP was assessed at baseline and at the end of the long-term phase with a latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. Ethics approval and written informed consent were obtained (5). Information on baseline hs-CRP was available in 219 patients (mean age 48.1 ± 12.0 years, 62% female, mean HbA1c 9.25 ± 1.4% [78 ± 16.2 mmol/mol], 51.6% type 2 diabetes, median hs-CRP 0.33 mg/dL [interquartile range 0.10, 0.84]). Depression outcomes included short-term treatment response (≥50% reduction of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAMD-17] baseline score or HAMD-17 posttreatment score ≤7), remission of depression at the end of the long-term phase (HAMD-17 scores ≤7 and no …