Investigation of blood flow parameters in depression patients

Depression and cardiovascular diseases are common diseases in the community. Cardiovascular diseases are common in depression and increase mortality and morbidity. Decreases in blood flow in cardiovascular diseases is common. The aim of this study was to investigate the blood flow parameters of depression patients. Patients who were included in the study were diagnosed with major depression according to DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria and Hamilton Depression Scale and had cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and non-pregnant women who did not exercise in the last 12 hours. According to the DSM-V and the Hamilton Depression Scale, the subjects who were determined to be not depressed were included in the control group.Beck Depression Scale was used to measure depression levels in the patient group. Blood flow was evaluated by evaluating plasma viscosity, hematocrit, erythrocyte aggregation and erythrocyte deformability. Plasma viscosity was measured with cone-plate viscometer at different shear rates. Erythrocyte deformation and aggregation were measured by LORCA (laser rotating cell analyzer). The temperature of the systems was 370C in all three measurements. In addition, the hematological values of depression patients were compared with the values of the control group. In patients with depression, an increase in 900sn1 (120rpm) shear rate and 0.53 erythrocyte deformability were statistically significant compared to the control group (p<0,05). However, the erythrocyte aggregation values of AMP, AI and t 1/2 were not changed. There was no significant difference in the number of erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean erythrocyte volume, mean erythrocyte hemoglobin and erythrocyte distribution and leukocyte count. The mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in the depression group than the control group (p <0.05). According to the results of our study, the blood viscosity parameters in the patients with depression increased plasma viscosity and erythrocyte deformability may be decreased. This may lead to cardiovascular diseases.