Prior depression history and deterioration of physical health in community-dwelling older adults--a prospective cohort study.

TitlePrior depression history and deterioration of physical health in community-dwelling older adults--a prospective cohort study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsCho HJin, Lavretsky H, Olmstead R, Levin M, Oxman MN, Irwin MR
JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
Volume18
Issue5
Pagination442-51
Date Published2010 May
ISSN1545-7214
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Chronic Disease, Data Collection, Depression, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Depression worsens outcomes of physical illness. However, it is unknown whether this negative effect persists after depressive symptoms remit in older adults. This study examined whether prior depression history predicts deterioration of physical health in community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Three urban communities in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred fifty-one adults aged 60 years or older-145 with a history of major or nonmajor depression in full remission and 206 concurrent age- and gender-matched comparison subjects with no history of mental illness.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years for physical health functioning (the Physical Component Summary of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey) and chronic medical burden (the Chronic Disease Score). Given the repeated nature of measurements, linear mixed model regression was performed.

RESULTS: Both physical functioning and chronic medical burden deteriorated more rapidly over time in the group with prior depression history compared with comparison subjects, and these changes were independent of the measures of mental health functioning, depressive symptoms, and sleep quality. Similar results were observed when those who developed depressive episodes during follow-up were excluded.

CONCLUSION: A prior history of clinical depression is associated with a faster deterioration of physical health in community-dwelling older adults, which is not explained by current levels of depressive symptoms and mental health functioning or by recurrence of depressive episodes. Careful screening for a history of depression may identify those older adults at greatest risk for physical declines and chronic medical burden.

DOI10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181ca3a2d
Alternate JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
PubMed ID20220581
PubMed Central IDPMC2860010
Grant ListAG 026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG 18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
CA 1001452 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
CA116778 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
HL 079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K24 MH086481 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
MH5525 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748-049004 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30-AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG034588-01 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159-04 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955-04 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH055253 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH055253-04 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
RR00827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925-12 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32-MH19925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States