Associations among mental health needs and co-morbid chronic conditions in California

Using California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) 2007data, a November 2011 report highlighted an 8.3% burden of mental health needs in California found that those responding to the survey were 1.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, or asthma; or to have two or more of these conditions. We conducted follow-up analyses on the subsequent dataset from CHIS in 2009 and to investigate risk factors in those with mental health needs and co-morbidities.

Methods: Using CHIS 2009 data, an exploratory analysis of associations among mental health needs and type II diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease was conducted in order to better understand the burden of disease in California and to investigate risk factors that may lead to a systemic approach to prevention. Results: Controlling for age, gender, smoking, moderate physical activity reported in previous week, and binge drinking, those with chronic illnesses were 1.52 times likely to report mental health needs (95% C.I. 1.44-1.59) than those without. Adjusted odds of type II diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease did not differ from their aggregated measure of effect. Conclusions: These data suggest a continued and stable association found with chronic illness and mental health needs after controlling for important demographic and behavioral risk factors. More research should focus on understanding the temporal relationship of these comorbidities and coordinating clinical guidelines that may help to better screen for mental health needs in chronic disease settings.