279346
Interrelationships between depression, anxiety, and chronic disease among Maine adults: A call to action for Maine chronic disease programs
Sara Huston
,
University of Southern Maine / Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Augusta, ME
Prashant Mittal, MSc, MS
,
Muskie School of Public Service, Univiersity of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
Elsie Freeman, MD MPH
,
Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy, USM Muskie School of Public Service, Trevett, ME
Anne Conners
,
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME
Kip Neale
,
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Augusta, ME
Background: Although links between depression, anxiety and chronic disease are well-documented, state public health programs have not commonly integrated these issues into chronic disease-related interventions. We analyzed Maine Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to increase Maine chronic disease program staff's awareness of the importance of depression/anxiety. Methods: We examined interrelationships between chronic conditions (hypertension, high cholesterol, prediabetes, diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease) and risk factors (obesity, physical activity, fruit/vegetable intake, smoking, heavy drinking) and lifetime depression/anxiety (current moderate/severe symptoms as measured by PHQ-8 or lifetime diagnosed depression or anxiety) among Maine adults using 2009-2010 BRFSS data. We used SAS 9.2 procedures appropriate for the design; all data were weighted. Results: One in ten Maine adults had current depression; three in ten had lifetime depression/anxiety. With few exceptions (drinking, fruit/vegetable intake, cardiovascular disease, cancer), the prevalence of lifetime depression/anxiety was significantly higher among Maine adults with chronic conditions and risk factors compared to those without (insufficient physical activity: 34.6% vs. 27.6%, smoking: 46.7% vs. 25.2%, obesity: 40.2% vs. 24.6%, hypertension: 35.5% vs. 28.4%, high cholesterol: 34.1% vs. 27.1%, prediabetes: 48.1% vs. 27.0%, diabetes: 38.2% vs. 28.4%, asthma: 46.5% vs. 27.3%). Discussion: Given the substantial prevalence of depression/anxiety among Maine adults with chronic conditions and risk factors and the impact depression/anxiety can have on making lifestyle changes and controlling chronic conditions, Maine public health programs must incorporate mental health issues into chronic disease-related interventions to be successful. We are using multiple dissemination approaches to reach Maine public health professionals.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Other professions or practice related to public health
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe whether adults with chronic conditions and risk factors are more or less likely to have depression/anxiety.
List at least two ways in which depression/anxiety can impact chronic disease prevention and control.
Formulate ideas for analyses to look at depression and chronic disease in other states using similar data sources.
Keywords: Depression, Chronic Diseases
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a doctoral degree in Epidemiology and more than 15 years of experience in applied public health epidemiology working at the state, national, and international levels. I have specific expertise in the analysis, interpretation, presentation, and dissemination of state, national, and local level chronic disease-related data for public health action.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
Register for the meeting now