Patients with different types of arthritis may be at risk for major depression: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND

Arthritis is one of the common causes of physical pain and disability, which often makes patients fall into major depression. However, the correlation between arthritis and major depression, and how different types of arthritis correspond to major depression remain to be explored. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between arthritis and major depression.

METHODS

Arthritis status was reported by participants themselves, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used to evaluate major depression, logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between arthritis and major depression.

RESULTS

We analyzed the data of 25,990 adults who participated in the NHANES from 2007 to 2018. Participants with major depression were more likely to be female, Hispanic, smoker, less educated, less recreational activities, poverty-to-income ratio <5, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer or malignant tumor, diabetes, hypertension and higher body mass index (BMI). Arthritis was significantly correlated with major depression (25.4% vs. 44.9%; P<0.001), even after adjusting for gender, age, race, BMI, PIR, education, marriage, moderate recreational activities, smoking, history of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer or malignant tumor, diabetes, and hypertension (OR =2.30, 95% CI, 2.06-2.56, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that compared with degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) had the greatest influence on major depression patients.

CONCLUSIONS

All patients with arthritis, especially PsA, may have the risk of major depression. Psychological intervention necessary for patients with arthritis.