Comparative analysis of serum hs-CRP and IL-1β levels in major depressive disorder patients and healthy controls in a tertiary care setting in Sikkim
Systemic inflammation is increasingly linked to Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and its expression may vary across populations. This study evaluates serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in MDD patients (n-40) and healthy controls (n=40) to understand the biological basis of depression within the unique ethnic and environmental context of Sikkim. Females were the majority in both MDD (67.5%) and control (70%) groups. Most participants had a normal BMI (MDD: 62.5%, Control: 67.5%), with few cases of obesity or underweight. Nepali ethnicity was predominant in both MDD: 80% and,Control: 77.5% followed by Bhutias and others however statistically insignificant. hs-CRP differed significantly between MDD (3335.7 pg/L) and controls (3164.7 pg/L) P< 0.05, though it did not vary by depression severity. hs-CRP showed fair diagnostic ability (AUC = 0.746, 95% CI: 0.638–0.854, P< 0.01; sensitivity 65%, specificity 77.5%), whereas IL-1β demonstrated poor performance. hs–CRP shows potential as an adjunct inflammatory marker in assessing depression. Future studies should explore composite biomarker approach combined with clinical tools to enhance diagnostic and treatment strategies.