Association between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and depression: the NHANES 2005–2018

Abstract

Abstract Depression, impacting millions worldwide, necessitates the identification of predictive markers for risk assessment. The Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), an indicator of immune and nutritional status, is correlated with various diseases' prognoses. This study explores the correlation between PNI and depression in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset spanning 2005 to 2018.Utilizing NHANES data, we included 32,739 participants after applying exclusion criteria. The PNI was calculated from serum albumin levels and lymphocyte counts. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic regression models estimated the odds ratios for depression across PNI levels, adjusted for various demographic and health variables. The mean age of participants was 47.78 years, with a prevalence of depressive symptoms observed in 7.82% of the sample. A nonlinear association between PNI levels and depression risk was observed, with lower PNI linked to higher depression odds. Subgroup analyses supported the consistency of the PNI-depression association across different cohorts. The relationship between lower PNI and increased depression risk suggests the potential of PNI as a tool for depression risk assessment. This study underscores the significance of PNI as a marker in understanding the relationship between nutritional status and depression, providing insights into preventive and therapeutic strategies in mental health care.