Volume 10,Issue 9
The Complex Relationship Between Urinary Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio and Depression
Background: One of the main causes of disability in the world is depression. A recent study has found substantial links between metabolic indicators, including serum albumin and uric acid, and depressive symptoms, pointing to the possibility that metabolic-inflammatory pathways are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The Urinary Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR) is an important indicator for evaluating kidney damage and cardiovascular risk; however, its link to depression is not well understood. This research aims to explore the potential association between UACR and depression. Methods: Data from NHANES from 2005 to 2018 were used in this study, focusing on individuals 20 years and older with available urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) information. The relationship between UACR levels and depression was assessed using weighted multivariate logistic regression, with adjustments for important factors. To determine the strength of this association, subgroup analyses were performed considering various demographic and health-related variables. Results: According to the unadjusted analysis, there was a significant relationship between increased UACR and a greater risk of depression. Each unit rise in UACR, after applying a natural logarithmic transformation, was linked to an 18% higher risk of depression (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.14–1.23). Furthermore, individuals in the highest tertile of UACR exhibited a 112% elevated risk of depression relative to those in the lowest UACR tertile (OR:2.12,95% CI: 1.57–2.86). This association between UACR and the risk of depression was consistently observed across diverse demographic subgroups. Conclusions: This study’s preliminary unadjusted analyses suggested a correlation between elevated UACR, higher proteinuria grades, and an increased risk of depression. However, after thorough adjustment for covariates, these associations were no longer statistically significant. These results imply that the connection between UACR, proteinuria levels, and depression might be intricate and possibly affected by different socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. Further investigation is essential to uncover the basic mechanisms and clinical impacts of this association.
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