OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms in patients with late-life depression (LLD). It also aimed to explore the predictive value of whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers on the efficacy of short-term medication.

METHODS

Eighty-three patients with LLD were included, and their baseline demographics, routine blood test results and clinical characteristics before and after 2 weeks of treatment were collected. Whole-blood cell-derived inflammatory markers at pre-treatment were calculated. Additionally, correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between inflammatory makers and clinical characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing short-term outcomes in patients. The predictive value of whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers for short-term outcomes was evaluated by plotting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

In this study, baseline PLR showed a positive correlation with the patients' HAMA scores at baseline. Furthermore, the levels of NLR, MLR, and NPR at baseline were negatively correlated with the patients' percentage reduction in HAMD score after 2 weeks of treatment. Regression analysis showed that baseline NPR was an independent risk factor affecting the efficacy of short-term pharmacological treatment. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of baseline NPR for predicting the outcome of short-term treatment was 0.713.

CONCLUSION

There is a correlation between baseline whole blood cell-derived inflammatory markers and anxiety symptoms and short-term antidepressant efficacy in patients with LLD. Pre-treatment NPR levels may be an independent risk factor influencing the short-term treatment outcome in patients with LLD, and it may have a potential predictive value for short-term treatment efficacy.