Age and Gender Differences in Trends and Impact of Depression on Quality of Life in the United States, 2008 to 2016. Womens Health Issues 2021;31(4):353-365
Date
04/04/2021Pubmed ID
33810952Pubmed Central ID
PMC8260438DOI
10.1016/j.whi.2021.02.005Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85103503745 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 7 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine age and gender differences in the relationship between depression and quality of life among United States adults.
METHODS: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data for 2008 to 2016 on 227,663 adults were analyzed. The dependent variable, quality of life, included physical component summary scores and mental component summary scores from the Short Form Health Survey. The key independent variable, depression, was measured using the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire. General linear regression models examined the relationship between quality of life and depression. Models were adjusted for individual and environmental characteristics, symptom status, functional and biological status, and health perceptions and were stratified by gender and age.
RESULTS: In adjusted models, mental component summary scores were significantly lower among those with depression compared with those without depression (β = -0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38 to -1.16) and lower among women compared with men (β = -0.10; 95% CI, 0.10 to -1.31). Models stratified by gender and age found women with depression ages 40 to 64 (β = -0.07; 95% CI, 0.07 to -0.20) and 65 or older (β = -0.08; 95% CI, 0.08 to -0.24) had significantly lower physical component summary scores compared with those without depression. Among men with depression, those ages 18 to 39 (β = -0.03; 95% CI, 0.03 to -0.10) and 40 to 64 (β = -0.09, 95% CI, 0.08 to -0.26) had lower physical component summary scores compared with those without depression. Women and men of all ages with depression had significantly lower mental component summary scores compared with those without depression.
CONCLUSIONS: Public health interventions and clinical approaches to address depression in women and men should target functional status in men and perceptions of health in women.
Author List
Anguzu R, Nagavally S, Dawson AZ, Walker RJ, Egede LEAuthors
Ronald Anguzu MD, PhD Assistant Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinAprill Z. Dawson PhD, MPH Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Leonard E. Egede MD Center Director, Chief, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rebekah Walker PhD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
Young Adult
