Is there a relationship between metabolic syndrome and depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis

  Introduction: Metabolic syndrome includes a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that affects about a third of the general population. Studies have been conducted on the relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome that have had conflicting results. The purpose of this study was a meta-analysis of studies that have examined the relationship between these two variables.   Materials and Methods: In this study, all full text papers published from 2000 to 2014 on the relationship between metabolic syndrome and depression were considered. 17 papers were obtained from SID, Magiran, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Data from selected studies using meta-analysis, random effects models were analyzed. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2. Data were analyzed using STATA software package version 11.2.   Results: Analysis by the type of studies show that the relationship between two variables in the Cross-sectional studies (OR=1.51, CI 95%=1.36-1.68) and Cohort studies (OR=1.6, CI 95%=1.23-2.08) is significant. In general, Heterogeneity test among the studies was not significant (P for Heterogeneity = 0.08, I2 = 39.8%).   Conclusion: There is a relationship between metabolic syndrome and depression. In medical evaluation of patients with depression considering the metabolic syndrome and its components appear to be necessary, and vice versa.