Diabetes differentially affects depression and self-rated health by age in the U.S

Diabetes Care. 2012 Jul;35(7):1575-7. doi: 10.2337/dc11-2266. Epub 2012 May 18.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the relationship between age and physical and mental health varies by diabetes status in older U.S. adults.

Research design and methods: Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a national sample of 3,005 adults aged 57-85 years, we tested the significance of the interaction between age and diabetes in association with health states.

Results: Respondents with diabetes in the youngest age cohort had more medical conditions than those without diabetes, a difference that narrowed with age (P for interaction <0.01). The youngest cohort with diabetes had a higher rate of depression compared to those without diabetes (14 vs. 8%). Depression declined with age and did not differ by diabetes status in the oldest respondents (P = 0.01 for age-diabetes interaction).

Conclusions: Diabetes differentially affects self-rated overall health and depression by age, with convergence in the oldest age-group with and without diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / etiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / psychology*
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Mental Health*
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Report
  • United States / epidemiology