Depression and the Onset of Chronic Illness in Older Adults: A 12-Year Prospective Study

• Published in: The journal of behavioral health services & research Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 373 - 382
• Main Authors: Karakus, Mustafa C., Patton, Lisa C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.07.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Age Distribution; Aged; Arthritis; Cancer; Chronic Disease - epidemiology; Chronic Disease - psychology; Chronic illnesses; Chronic sickness; Community and Environmental Psychology; Correlation analysis; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - psychology; Diabetes; Elderly people; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Informatics; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health Psychology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Older people; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Public Health; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; United States - epidemiology; United States; United States > US; Chronic Illness; Religious Coping; Baseline Depression; Heart Problem; Ordinal Logistic Regression
• ISSN: 1094-3412; 1556-3308
• DOI: 10.1007/s11414-011-9234-2

The relationship between depression and development of chronic illness among older adults is not well understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the relationship between depression at baseline and new onset of chronic illnesses including cancer, heart problems, arthritis, and diabetes. Analysis controlling for demographics (age, gender, race, education), health risk indicators (BMI and smoking), functional limitations (gross motor index, health limitations for work), and income show that working-age older people (ages 50–62) with depression at baseline are at significantly higher risk to develop diabetes, heart problems, and arthritis during the 12-year follow-up. No significant association was found between depression and cancer. Prevention efforts aimed at chronic illnesses among the elderly should recognize the mind–body interaction and focus on preventing or alleviating depression.