Prospective data from the Women's Health Initiative on depressive symptoms, stress, and inflammation

This study examined the longitudinal association of depressive symptoms and stressful life events with inflammation in the Women's Health Initiative. Women aged 50 years and older (N = 7477) completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms and stressful life events at baseline and 15 years later. Serum measures of C-reactive protein were collected at both assessments. In bivariate analyses, C-reactive protein predicted 15-year depressive symptoms and stressful life events (ps <.03) and baseline depressive symptoms and stressful life events predicted later C-reactive protein (ps <.03). These longitudinal relationships were not maintained in multivariate adjusted analyses. Combined with previous research, this suggests the relationship between depression, stressful life events and inflammation attenuates with time.