Mao-Hsuan Huang1,2, Yen-Po Wang1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, Po-Shan Wu3,6, Yee-Lam E Chan7, Chih-Ming Cheng2,3,8, Cheng-Hung Yang2,8, Shih-Jen Tsai2,8, Ching-Liang Lu1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, Chia-Fen Tsai2,3,8. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Suao and Yuanshan Branches of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, ROC. 2. Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 3. Institute of Brain Science, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 4. Endoscopic Center for Diagnosis and Treatment, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 5. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 6. Division of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 7. Department of Psychiatry, Cheng Hsin Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. 8. Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older adults with depression more frequently experience somatic and gastrointestinal (GI) problems compared with people without depression and younger adults with depression. However, whether GI symptoms are predictive of elevated rates of depression among older adults is unclear. METHODS: We enrolled 106 older adults (>60 years old); 69 had late-life depression (LLD), and 37 were controls. All participants gave ratings on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and a Mediterranean diet score was used as a covariate. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, patients with LLD reported higher levels of depressive and GI symptoms and reported more reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia symptoms, and these symptoms were correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (GSRS total: β = 0.47; reflux: β = 1.47; abdominal pain: β = 1.98; dyspepsia: β = 1.02; all p < 0.01). After demographic variables and Mediterranean diet score were controlled for, a logistic regression analysis indicated that total GSRS score was an independent determinant of LLD (odds ratio: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.38). Moreover, a stratified analysis by depression severity indicated that higher total GSRS score may contribute to greater depression severity (odds ratio: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.52). CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that GI symptoms are associated with depressive symptoms among patients with LLD. Older people with more specific GI symptoms, such as reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia, are potentially at greater risk of having LLD.
BACKGROUND: Older adults with depression more frequently experience somatic and gastrointestinal (GI) problems compared with people without depression and younger adults with depression. However, whether GI symptoms are predictive of elevated rates of depression among older adults is unclear. METHODS: We enrolled 106 older adults (>60 years old); 69 had late-life depression (LLD), and 37 were controls. All participants gave ratings on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Food consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and a Mediterranean diet score was used as a covariate. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, patients with LLD reported higher levels of depressive and GI symptoms and reported more reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia symptoms, and these symptoms were correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores (GSRS total: β = 0.47; reflux: β = 1.47; abdominal pain: β = 1.98; dyspepsia: β = 1.02; all p < 0.01). After demographic variables and Mediterranean diet score were controlled for, a logistic regression analysis indicated that total GSRS score was an independent determinant of LLD (odds ratio: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.38). Moreover, a stratified analysis by depression severity indicated that higher total GSRS score may contribute to greater depression severity (odds ratio: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.52). CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that GI symptoms are associated with depressive symptoms among patients with LLD. Older people with more specific GI symptoms, such as reflux, abdominal pain, and dyspepsia, are potentially at greater risk of having LLD.
Authors: Chin-Chen Liu; Yi-Tung Lin; Kung-Chuan Cheng; Hsueh-Hsing Pan; Chou-Ping Chiou Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-08-01 Impact factor: 4.614