Specific chronic illnesses, including asthma/COPD (OR 2.85; 95% CI 1.36-5.98), remained independently associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for subjective health and functional status.
Observational (n=2,611)
Are specific chronic illnesses independently associated with depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults after adjusting for subjective health and functional status?
Most comorbid associations of depressive symptoms with specific chronic illnesses are explained by poor self-reported health and functional status, though some conditions maintain independent associations.
Effect estimate: OR 2.85 (95% CI 1.36-5.98)
OBJECTIVE: Depression in elderly is reportedly associated with a number of specific chronic illnesses. Whether each of these co-morbid associations results uniquely from disease-specific psychobiological responses or is mediated by non-specific factors like subjective health and functional status is unclear. METHOD: Analysis of data of 2,611 community-dwelling Chinese aged 55 and older, including depressive symptoms defined by Geriatric Depression Scale score >or= 5 and self-reports of specific chronic illnesses. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 13.3%, lower in those without chronic illness (7.5%), and higher in those with illnesses (13.2-24.2%). Crude Odds Ratios (OR) were significantly elevated for hypertension, eye disorders, diabetes, arthritis, ischemic heart disease, asthma/COPD, stroke, osteoporosis, heart failure, thyroid problem, and gastric problem. In multivariable analyses, only asthma/COPD OR:2.85, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 1.36, 5.98, gastric problem (OR:2.64, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.29), arthritis (OR:1.87, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.42) and heart failure (OR:2.11, 95% CI: 0.98, 4.58) remained independently associated with depressive symptoms, after adjusting for comorbidities, subjective health and functional status, cognitive functioning, smoking, alcohol, psychosocial and demographic variables. CONCLUSION: Most comorbid associations of depressive symptoms with specific chronic illnesses are explained by accompanying poor self-reported health and functional status, but some illnesses probably have a direct psychobiological basis.
Niti et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Depression and chronic medical illnesses (n=2,611). Specific chronic illnesses vs. No chronic illness was evaluated on Depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale score >= 5) (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.36-5.98). Specific chronic illnesses, including asthma/COPD (OR 2.85; 95% CI 1.36-5.98), remained independently associated with depressive symptoms after adjusting for subjective health and functional status.