Prevalence and risk factors for suicide attempts in first-episode and drug-naïve middle-aged major depressive disorder patients with impaired fasting glucose

Abstract Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is prevalent among the middle-aged population. Recent studies have found an association between suicide attempts and abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, there are fewer studies on suicide attempts in middle-aged MDD patients with comorbid IFG. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk of suicide attempts in first-episode, untreated middle-aged MDD patients with IFG. Methods: A total of 830 middle-aged (35-60 years) patients with first-episode and drug-naïve(FEDN) MDD were included in the study. Among them, 119 patients comorbid abnormal glucose metabolism. Sociodemographic and clinical information, as well as depression, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms, were collected and evaluated. Blood glucose levels, lipid levels, and serum thyroid function were also measured. The predictors of suicide attempt risk of middle-aged FEND MDD patients were identified by binary logistic regression. Results: Prevalence of suicide attempts in middle-aged MDD patients with IFG was 38.66% (46/119). Significant differences in disease duration, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, blood pressure, anti-thyroglobulin(TGAb),thyroid peroxidases antibody(TPOAb), thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH), and total cholesterol (TC) were found in patients who attempted suicide as compared to those who did not. Furthermore, Hamilton anxiety rating scale(HAMA) score, TGAb and disease duration were predictors of suicide attempts in middle-aged MDD patients with comorbid IFG. Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of suicide attempts in middle-aged MDD patients with comorbid IFG, and we had further identified HAMA, TGAb and disease duration as predictors of suicide attempts in MDD patients with IFG.