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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Mood Disorders | Research

The association between serum albumin and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study of NHANES data during 2005–2018

Authors: Guimei Zhang, Shuna Li, Sisi Wang, Fangyi Deng, Xizhe Sun, Jiyang Pan

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Aims

The association between serum albumin and depressive symptoms has been unclear in previous epidemiological studies. We explored whether serum albumin is associated with depressive symptoms based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 13,681 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the NHANES performed during 2005–2018, which produced nationally representative database. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Serum albumin concentration was measured using the bromocresol purple dye method, and participants were divided into quartiles of serum albumin concentrations. Weighted data were calculated according to analytical guidelines. Logistics regression and linear regression models were used to assess and quantify the association between serum albumin and depressive symptoms. Univariate and stratified analyses were also performed.

Results

There were 1551 (10.23%) adults (aged ≥ 20 years) with depressive symptoms among the 13,681. A negative association was found between serum albumin concentration and depressive symptoms. Compared with the lowest albumin quartile, the multivariate-adjusted effect size (95% confidence interval) for depressive symptoms of the fully adjusted model in the highest albumin quartile was 0.77 (0.60 to 0.99) and − 0.38 (− 0.66 to − 0.09) using logistics regression and linear regression models respectively. Current smoking status modified the association between serum albumin concentration and PHQ-9 scores (p for interaction = 0.033).

Conclusion

This cross-sectional study revealed that albumin concentration is significantly more likely to be a protective factor for depressive symptoms, with the association being more pronounced in non-smokers.
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Metadata
Title
The association between serum albumin and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study of NHANES data during 2005–2018
Authors
Guimei Zhang
Shuna Li
Sisi Wang
Fangyi Deng
Xizhe Sun
Jiyang Pan
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04935-1

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