Effect of chronic somatic diseases on the course of late-life depression

ObjectiveTo examine the influence of specific chronic somatic diseases and overall somatic diseases burden on the course of depression in older persons. MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study with a 2-year follow-up. Participants were depressed persons (n=285) from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons. The presence of chronic somatic diseases was based on self-report. Diagnosis of depression was assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, and severity of depression was measured with the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-report. ResultsCardiovascular diseases (odds ratio [OR]=1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.02-2.72, p=0.041), musculoskeletal diseases (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.04-2.80, p=0.034), and the number of chronic somatic diseases (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.16-1.63, p<0.001) were associated with having a depressive disorder at 2-year follow-up. Furthermore, chronic non-specific lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, cancer, or cumulative somatic disease burden were associated with a chronic course of depression. ConclusionsSomatic disease burden is associated with a poor course of late-life depression. The course of late-life depression is particularly unfavorable in the presence of chronic non-specific lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, and cancer. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.