Table 3.
Multivariable linear mixed model analysis of the relationship between inflammatory biomarker levels at baseline and change in PTSD scores between baseline and 6 months.
| Outcome | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total PTSD Score |
Re-experiencing Subscale |
Hyperarousal Subscale |
Avoidance Subscale |
|||||||||
| Beta | (95% CI) | P | Beta | (95% CI) | P | Beta | (95% CI) | P | Beta | (95% CI) | P | |
| Model 1: Demographics (age, sex, education, Black race) | ||||||||||||
| CRP | 1.38 | (0.50,3.78) | 0.533 | 1.62 | (1.15,2.29) | 0.007 | 1.00 | (0.68,1.45) | 0.983 | 0.91 | (0.58,1.43) | 0.686 |
| IL-6 | 3.97 | (0.42,37.71) | 0.477 | 2.16 | (0.98,4.71) | 0.056 | 1.67 | (0.73,3.82) | 0.224 | 1.07 | (0.39,2.97) | 0.891 |
| Model 2: Demographics + Clinical Severity (Ejection Fraction, STEMI) | ||||||||||||
| CRP | 1.26 | (0.44,3.53) | 0.666 | 1.57 | (1.09,2.25) | 0.014 | 0.94 | (0.64,1.39) | 0.778 | 0.89 | (0.55,1.42) | 0.606 |
| IL-6 | 7.03 | (0.69,71.52) | 0.099 | 2.51 | (1.01,5.70) | 0.027 | 2.01 | (0.85,4.76) | 0.112 | 1.45 | (0.5,4.14) | 0.492 |
| Model 3: Demographics + Severity + CV Risk Factors (BMI, Ever Smoker, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Hypertension) | ||||||||||||
| CRP | 1.23 | (0.44,3.49) | 0.689 | 1.57 | (1.09,2.25) | 0.014 | 0.94 | (0.64,1.38) | 0.742 | 0.88 | (0.55,1.4) | 0.575 |
| IL-6 | 7.32 | (0.72,73.70) | 0.092 | 2.56 | (1.13,5.75) | 0.025 | 2.03 | (0.86,4.81) | 0.104 | 1.46 | (0.51,4.22) | 0.473 |
| Model 4: Demographics + Severity + Risk Factors + Prescriptions (Statins, Aspirin, Antidepressants) | ||||||||||||
| CRP | 1.26 | (0.44,3.56) | 0.663 | 1.58 | (1.11,2.27) | 0.013 | 0.95 | (0.64,1.39) | 0.784 | 0.88 | (0.55,1.4) | 0.594 |
| IL-6 | 7.69 | (0.75,79.04) | 0.086 | 2.59 | (1.14,5.87) | 0.024 | 2.10 | (0.88,4.95) | 0.094 | 1.49 | (0.52,4.31) | 0.457 |
Abbreviations:
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
CRP: C-Reactive Protein.
IL-6: Interleukin-6.
STEMI: ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.
CV: Cardiovascular.
BMI: Body Mass Index.
The natural logs of inflammatory markers at baseline were used as predictors of changes in mental health scores; then, results were transformed back to original units to ease interpretation. The beta coefficients refer to the interaction between inflammatory markers and time, therefore expressing the unit change in PTSD scale scores between baseline and 6 months per each unit of baseline hsCRP or IL-6. Bolded text indicates significant results at p < 0.05.