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Low maximal oxygen uptake is associated with elevated depressive symptoms in middle-aged men

  • Psychiatric Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

A low level of physical activity has been associated with depression, and increased physical activity has been found to have a positive effect on mood. However, the association between maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and mood has been poorly studied. In this study VO2max (ml/kg per min) was measured in a sample of 1,519 men aged 46–61 years during a cycle ergometer test by using respiratory gas exchange. Men with a history of psychiatric disorder or serious physical illness were excluded. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 18-item Human Population Laboratory Depression Scale (HPL). Those who scored 5 or more in the HPL were considered to have elevated depressive symptoms.

The participants were classified into quartiles according to the VO2max. Those in the lowest quartile had a more than 3-fold (OR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.65–7.09; p < 0.001) higher risk of having elevated depressive symptoms compared with those in the highest quartile, even after adjusting for several confounders (OR: 3.38; 95% CI: 1.60–7.14; p < 0.001).

In conclusion, low VO2max is associated with having elevated depressive symptoms in middle-aged men.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

analysis of variance

BMI:

body mass index

CI:

confidence interval

HPL:

Human Population Laboratory

KIHD:

The Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Factor

MET:

metabolic equivalent

OR:

odds ratio

SES:

sosioeconomic status

VO2max :

maximal oxygen uptake

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    T. Tolmunen, J. Hintikka & H. Viinamäki

  2. Research Institute of Public Health, Department of Public Health and General Practice, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    J. A. Laukkanen, S. Kurl, R. Salonen, J. Kauhanen & J. T. Salonen

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    J. Hintikka

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Paijat-Hame Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland

    J. Hintikka

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Institute for Social Research Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, US

    G. A. Kaplan

  6. Inner Savo Health Centre, Suonenjoki, Suonenjoki, Finland

    J. T. Salonen

Authors
  1. T. Tolmunen
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  2. J. A. Laukkanen
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  3. J. Hintikka
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  4. S. Kurl
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  5. H. Viinamäki
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  6. R. Salonen
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  7. J. Kauhanen
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  8. G. A. Kaplan
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  9. J. T. Salonen
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Correspondence to T. Tolmunen.

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Tolmunen, T., Laukkanen, J.A., Hintikka, J. et al. Low maximal oxygen uptake is associated with elevated depressive symptoms in middle-aged men. Eur J Epidemiol 21, 701–706 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9038-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9038-5

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