The Prevalence of Chronic Physical Diseases Comorbid with Depression among Different Sex and Age Groups in South Korea: A Population-Based Study, 2007-2014

Objective People with depression often suffer from comorbid, chronic physical diseases. Little is known about how demographic characteristics such as age and sex influence the prevalence of chronic physical diseases comorbid with depression. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the age and sex differences in the prevalence of diverse, chronic physical diseases comorbid with depression. Methods This cross-sectional survey were conducted with the participants (n = 45,598) of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Using log-binomial regression, age adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) of chronic physical diseases of participants with depression and those without depression were estimated for each sex and age group. Results The APR of most chronic physical diseases were significantly higher among respondents with depression than those without depression. Chronic physical diseases that showed the highest APR were asthma in adult male respondents (APR = 3.46) and adult female respondents (APR = 2.19) and chronic renal failure in elderly male respondents (APR = 8.36) and elderly female respondents (APR = 1.94). Conclusion Prevalence ratios of the chronic physical diseases comorbid with depression differed according to sex and age groups. Collaborative care strategies should be designed according to demographic characteristics of the population.