Association between skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio and depression: A cross-sectional study based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND

Skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio (SVR) has emerged as a key indicator for evaluating sarcopenic obesity (SO). The study aimed to elucidate the association between SVR and depression among US adults.

METHODS

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018, this cross-sectional study employed weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to explore the association between SVR and depression. Subgroup and interaction analyses were also performed.

RESULTS

The analysis encompassed 7,262 US adults. In the fully adjusted model, a significant negative association between SVR and depression was observed (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.14-0.87). Additionally, SVR was significantly negatively correlated with mild (OR = 0.53, 95 % CI: 0.30-0.96) and severe depression (OR = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.05-0.84). When SVR was stratified into quartile (Q1-Q4), individuals in the highest quartile exhibited a lower likelihood of depression compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.65, 95 % CI: 0.42-0.99). Additionally, the third quartile of SVR was significantly negatively associated with mild depression (OR = 0.72, 95 % CI: 0.53-0.98). No significant non-linear dose-response relationship between SVR and depression prevalence was detected (P-nonlinear = 0.3387). The association remained significant in several subgroup analyses. However, the interaction test revealed that none of the stratified variables were significant (all P for interaction > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study was pioneering in establishing a negative association between SVR and depression within the US population.