Key result
A new diagnosis of cancer, chronic lung disease, or heart disease increased the risk of depressive symptoms within 2 years (HR 3.55 [CI 2.79-4.52], HR 2.21, and HR 1.45, respectively).
Why the study?
Does a new medical diagnosis increase the risk of developing significant depressive symptoms in middle-aged adults?
Cohort (n=8,387)
Does a new medical diagnosis increase the risk of developing significant depressive symptoms in middle-aged adults?
Effect estimate: HR 3.55 (95% CI 2.79-4.52)
A new diagnosis of major medical conditions, particularly cancer, chronic lung disease, and heart disease, significantly increases the long-term risk of developing depressive symptoms in middle-aged adults.
May prompt closer depression monitoring after new cancer, lung, or heart diagnoses; leaves open causality and intervention effects in observational data.
BACKGROUND: This study examines the risk of development of significant depressive symptoms after a new diagnosis of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, chronic lung disease, or stroke. METHODS: The study used 5 biennial waves (1992-2000) of the Health and Retirement Study to follow a sample of 8387 adults (aged 51 to 61 years and without significant depressive symptoms in 1992) from 1994 to 2000. Time-dependent Cox regression models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for an episode of significant depressive symptoms after a new diagnosis for each of the 7 medical conditions. RESULTS: Within 2 years of initial diagnosis, subjects with cancer had the highest hazard of depressive symptoms (HR, 3.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.79-4.52), followed by subjects with chronic lung disease (HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.64-2.79) and heart disease (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.93). The hazard for depressive symptoms for most of these diseases decreased over time; however, subjects with heart disease continued to have a higher risk for depressive symptoms even 2 to 4 years and 4 to 8 years after diagnosis, and a significantly higher hazard for depressive symptoms developed for persons with arthritis 2 to 4 years after diagnosis (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.11-1.92). CONCLUSION: The findings identify several high-risk patient groups who might benefit from depression screening and monitoring to improve health outcomes in this vulnerable population facing new medical illnesses.
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Polsky et al. (2005) conducted a cohort in New medical diagnosis (cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, chronic lung disease, or stroke) (n=8,387). New medical diagnosis was evaluated on Episode of significant depressive symptoms (HR 3.55, 95% CI 2.79-4.52). A new diagnosis of cancer, chronic lung disease, or heart disease increased the risk of depressive symptoms within 2 years (HR 3.55 [CI 2.79-4.52], HR 2.21, and HR 1.45, respectively).
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