DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE ELDERLY - ASSOCIATION WITH TOTAL WHITE BLOOD-CELL COUNT

1. The white blood cell (WBC) count in those with high depressive symp toms and non-depressed participants in the Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) were compared. 2. Of 376 9 participants 10.8% had high depressive symptoms as assessed by the C enters for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. The mean wh ite blood cell count was higher in the high depressive symptoms group compared to the non-depressed group (6.8 +/- 0.12 X 10(9) WBC/1 and 6. 5 +/- 0.03 X 10(9) WBC/1, respectively, p<0.01). 3. Because older adul ts frequently have disabling chronic conditions which could both influ ence their leukocyte count and cause depressive symptoms, model were d eveloped which controlled for the potential confounding. Even after ad justing for potential confounders, high depressive symptoms were still associated with higher white blood cell counts.