Abstract
Objectives
Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders in later life. Few population‐based studies have investigated their potential impacts on mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study is to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, their comorbidity and mortality in later life using a population‐based cohort study across eight LMICs.
Methods
This analysis was based on the 10/66 cohort study including 15991 people aged 65 or above in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, China and India, with an average follow‐up time of 3.9 years. Sub‐threshold and clinical levels of depression were determined using EURO‐D and ICD‐10 criteria and anxiety was based on GMS‐AGECAT. Cox proportional hazard modelling was used to estimate how having depression, anxiety or both was associated with mortality adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors.
Results
Participants with clinical depression (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.45; 95%CI:1.24‐1.70) and sub‐threshold anxiety (HR: 1.26; 95%CI:1.15‐1.38) had higher risk of mortality than those without the conditions after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health conditions. Co‐morbidity of depression and anxiety was associated with a 30% increased risk of mortality but the effect sizes varied across countries (Higgins I2=58.8%), with the strongest association in India (HR: 1.99; 95%CI:1.21‐3.27).
Conclusions
Depression and anxiety appear to be associated with mortality in older people living in LMICs. Variation in effect sizes may indicate different barriers to health service access across countries. Future studies may investigate underlying mechanisms and identify potential interventions to reduce the impact of common mental disorders.
Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders in later life. Few population‐based studies have investigated their potential impacts on mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study is to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, their comorbidity and mortality in later life using a population‐based cohort study across eight LMICs.
Methods
This analysis was based on the 10/66 cohort study including 15991 people aged 65 or above in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, China and India, with an average follow‐up time of 3.9 years. Sub‐threshold and clinical levels of depression were determined using EURO‐D and ICD‐10 criteria and anxiety was based on GMS‐AGECAT. Cox proportional hazard modelling was used to estimate how having depression, anxiety or both was associated with mortality adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors.
Results
Participants with clinical depression (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.45; 95%CI:1.24‐1.70) and sub‐threshold anxiety (HR: 1.26; 95%CI:1.15‐1.38) had higher risk of mortality than those without the conditions after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health conditions. Co‐morbidity of depression and anxiety was associated with a 30% increased risk of mortality but the effect sizes varied across countries (Higgins I2=58.8%), with the strongest association in India (HR: 1.99; 95%CI:1.21‐3.27).
Conclusions
Depression and anxiety appear to be associated with mortality in older people living in LMICs. Variation in effect sizes may indicate different barriers to health service access across countries. Future studies may investigate underlying mechanisms and identify potential interventions to reduce the impact of common mental disorders.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. |
| Early online date | 13 Oct 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 |