Journal Article

Muscle quality index is associated with depression among non-elderly US adults

Shao, Xuejing, Yang, Qichao, Wu, Menghuan, Wang, Zhaoxiang

2024

Overview

Purpose Muscle Quality Index (MQI), defined as the muscle strength per unit of muscle mass, is considered an emerging indicator of health and physical function. This study aims to explore the relationship between MQI and the risk of depression among non-elderly US adults. Methods This cross-sectional study collected data from participants aged between 20 and 59 years old, utilizing the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. The MQI was calculated by dividing the handgrip strength (HGS, kg) by the arm and appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM, kg). Depression assessments were conducted using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The relationship between MQI and the risk of depression was explored by weighted logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and subgroup analyses. Results A total of 4773 participants were included in this study. After adjusting for confounding factors, low MQI levels were identified as an independent risk factor for depression (OR = 0.800, 95%CI:0.668–0.957, P  = 0.015). Smooth curve fitting analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship. Subgroup analysis did not identify any specific populations. Conclusions Higher MQI levels were closely associated with a lower risk of depression among non-elderly US adults. MQI could enhance our understanding of the link between muscle and depression and might serve as a simple functional measure for evaluating and predicting depression.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adult / Alcohol / Arm / Body mass index / Cardiovascular disease / Chronic illnesses / Complications and side effects / Confounding (Statistics) / Cross-Sectional Studies / Cross-sectional study / Depression / Depression, Mental / Diabetes / Drug therapy / Exercise / Family income / Female / Gender / Hand Strength - physiology / Health aspects / Humans / Hypertension / Kidney diseases / Lifestyles / Male / Marital status / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Middle Aged / Mortality / Muscle quality index / Muscle strength / Muscle Strength - physiology / Muscle weakness / Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology / Musculoskeletal system / NHANES / Nonlinear relationship / Nutrition Surveys / Population / Psychiatry / Psychological aspects / Psychotherapy / Questionnaires / Regression analysis / Risk Factors / Skeletal muscle / Sociodemographics / United States - epidemiology / Young Adult