Physical health conditions more common in adolescents with depression

Analysis of national data indicated that physical health conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia and obesity, were more common among adolescents with a past-year major depressive episodes, compared with those without.

“Research suggests that physical health conditions, particularly asthma and diabetes, may be more common among people with a history of depression. However, studies of the association between depression and physical health conditions among adolescents are rare and tend to use only samples recruited from treatment settings,” Sarra L. Hedden, PhD, of SAMHSA, and colleagues wrote.

To assess associations between major depressive episodes, overall health and specific physical conditions among adolescents in the U.S., researchers analyzed data from the 2005 and 2014 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. An annual survey includes approximately 65,000 participants per year, with an estimated 17,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Conditions studied included asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, obesity and diabetes.

Participants with a past-year major depressive episode reported worse overall health ratings than those without a past-year major depressive episode.

Asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia were more common among participants with a past-year major depressive episode, compared with those without a past-year major depressive episode.

Findings were consistent by age, gender, race/ethnicity and poverty status with one significant exception, according to researchers.

Past-year asthma did not significantly differ between adolescent males with or without a past-year major depressive episode.

Female adolescents with a past-year major depressive episode had higher prevalence of obesity and lower prevalence of normal weight, compared with female adolescents without a past-year major depressive episode.

Lifetime diabetes was more common among females, adolescents aged 14 years or older, non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black adolescents with a past-year major depressive episode, compared with their peers without a past-year major depressive episode.

“Our findings have several important public health implications. Understanding which physical health conditions are associated with depression is important to aid prevention efforts, to improve the timely identification of at-risk populations, and to begin timely treatment strategies,” the researchers wrote. “For example, adolescents with particular health conditions can be regularly monitored for depression. Also, adolescents with existing depression can be monitored for the development of health conditions such as asthma and obesity. Treatment strategies that consider the presence of physical health conditions and depression may be needed to best increase the likelihood of successful interventions.” – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Hedden SL, et al. CBHSQ Data Review: Comparison of physical health conditions among adolescents aged 12 to 17 with and without major depressive disorder. Available at: http://www.samhsa.gov/data. Accessed April 20, 2017.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.