Premium
Cross‐sectional and longitudinal analysis of the association between hemogloblin concentrations and depression in older adults: The International Mobility in Aging Study
Author(s) -
Ahmed Tamer,
Vasiliadis HelenMaria
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.038439
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , demography , medicine , anemia , confidence interval , cross sectional study , poisson regression , odds ratio , body mass index , gerontology , longitudinal study , psychology , population , environmental health , pathology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Background Anemia is a common hematological condition in older adults, with estimated prevalence increasing with age after the fifth decade of life. 1 We examined the cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between hemoglobin concentrations and depression in older adults and whether these relationships were modified by sex, social context, or cognitive function. Method A total of 1608 community‐dwelling older adults from the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS) aged 65 to 74 years were recruited in Natal (Brazil), Manizales (Colombia), Kingston (Ontario, Canada), and Saint‐Hyacinthe (Quebec, Canada). The study outcome was depression, defined by a score of 16 or over in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D). Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) of depression, while longitudinal associations over four years follow‐up were examined using generalized estimating equations. Hemoglobin concentrations were used either as a continuous measure or categorized according to the severity of anemia. Models reported were adjusted for research sites, alcohol drinking status, body mass index, chronic conditions, activities of daily life disabilities, cognitive function, and polypharmacy. Result In multivariate cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses, for every 1g/dL increase in hemoglobin concentrations there was a significant reduction in the prevalence (PR=0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83 ‐ 0.97) and incidence (Odds Ratio (OR)=0.85, 95% CI: 0.77‐0.92) of depression. Moderate anemia was also a strong predictor of depression (OR=8.24, 95% CI: 1.45 ‐ 47.02). None of the multiplicative interactions by sex, research sites, or cognitive function were statistically significant. Conclusion In international samples of older adults, hemoglobin concentrations, as well as the severity of anemia, were independent risk factors for depression. References: 1‐ Guralnik JM, Eisenstaedt RS, Ferrucci L, Klein HG, Woodman RC. Prevalence of anemia in persons 65 years and older in the United States: evidence for a high rate of unexplained anemia. Blood . 2004;104(8):2263‐2268.