Prevalence and clinical profile of abnormal glucose in first-episode and drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder with comorbid abnormal thyroid function: a large-scale cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The associated factors of abnormal glucose in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid abnormal thyroid function (ATF) remain unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study with a large sample size that examines the risk factors of abnormal glucose in first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients comorbid with ATF and includes clinical correlates and thyroid hormone levels. METHODS: A total of 1718 FEDN MDD patients were recruited. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale were used to evaluate the symptoms of patients. Fasting blood glucose concentration and thyroid hormone levels were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal glucose in MDD patients with comorbid ATF was 47.3%, which was 4.25 times higher than that in MDD patients without ATF (17.4%). Compared to those ATF patients without abnormal glucose, ATF patients with abnormal glucose scored higher on HAMD, HAMA and PANSS positive subscale, had a higher rate of suicide attempts, severe anxiety and psychotic symptoms, and had higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroid peroxidases antibody (TPOAb) which were also correlated with abnormal glucose in MDD patients comorbid ATF (all P < 0.05). The combination of HAMD score and TSH could differentiate abnormal glucose from ATF. Further, TSH was independence-related with the concentration of fasting blood glucose in MDD patients with comorbid ATF. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate a high prevalence of abnormal glucose in MDD patients with comorbid ATF. Some clinical and thyroid function-related variables may be associated with abnormal glucose in MDD patients with comorbid ATF.