Vital exhaustion, depressive symptoms and serum triglyceride levels in high-risk middle-aged men

The role of elevated serum triglyceride level as a risk factor of coronary artery disease is well established.
Previous results have also indicated that depression or depressive symptoms and vital exhaustion correlate
with triglyceride levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of depressive symptoms, vital
exhaustion, and health behavior with serum triglyceride levels. The study sample comprised 444 high-risk
middle-aged men. Participants completed self-report questionnaires before laboratory tests. Triglyceride
concentrations were measured by the enzymatic method. Vital exhaustion and depression were associated
with unhealthy lifestyles and triglycerides. Vital exhaustion and depression were closely correlated constructs
with comparable relations with known coronary artery disease risk factors. When comparing vital exhaustion
(VE) to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), however, the first one had a stronger correlation with triglycerides
(TG), and also, path analyses showed a direct link from vital exhaustion to body mass index but not from
depression. Both vital exhaustion and depression are related to triglyceride levels. The relations are partly
mediated by unfavorable lifestyles. Although vital exhaustion is not so commonly assessed as depression,
results of this study support the importance of vital exhaustion as a health-related psychological risk factor.

Vital exhaustion,Depression,Serum lipids,Triglycerides