The association between arthritis and depression is intensified by excessive body weight: Findings from a US national survey, 2005–2012
Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 07/28/2016
Politis MD, et al. – In the present study researchers aim is to determine the degree to which abundance body weight effect–modifies the relationship amongst arthritis and depressive symptoms. The findings of this study indicate that the relationship amongst arthritis and depression is strengthened altogether by expanded body weight, specifically, among women.
Methods
8677 men and 8820 women aged 20 or older were enrolled, who completed a depression screening and general medical condition interview as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005–2012.
To pursue this research depression was ascertained utilizing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); a PHQ-9 score of 15 or higher was defined as indicative of depression.
Results
Researchers found that arthritis was reported in 26.5% (SE = 0.9) of men and 36.9% (SE = 1.4) of women.
Among healthy weight women, the association between depression and arthritis was not significant, but significant among overweight and obese women.
They also noted that the prevalence ratios (PRs) of depression among arthritis-free women were 1.00 (reference) for healthy weight, 1.43 (0.85–2.42) for overweight, and 1.99 (1.23–3.23) for obese women.
Further to this for women with arthritis, the PRs were 1.16 (0.63–2.12) for healthy weight, 3.80 (2.24–6.45) for overweight and 3.73 (2.30–6.05) for obese women.
The present study showed that among men than women, the intensifying effect from excessive body weight on the association between arthritis and depression was less salient.