Adults with a history of depression develop long-term physical health conditions at a rate 30% faster than those without, according to a study published on February 13 in PLOS Medicine. The research underscores the need for integrated healthcare approaches that address both mental and physical health.
The study, led by Kelly Fleetwood from the University of Edinburgh, involved 172,556 participants from the UK Biobank, aged 40 to 71. The research aimed to assess the long-term impact of depression on the rate at which individuals accumulate physical health conditions. The study followed participants for an average of 6.9 years, analyzing 69 different physical conditions.
Findings revealed that, on average, adults with a history of depression developed 0.2 more physical conditions per year compared to those without depression, who developed 0.16 conditions per year. At the start of the study, participants with depression had an average of three physical conditions, compared to two in those without depression. The most common new conditions reported among those with depression included osteoarthritis (15.7% vs. 12.5%), hypertension (12.9% vs. 12%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (13.8% vs. 9.6%).
Fleetwood and colleagues emphasize that depression should be recognized as a “whole-body” condition, influencing both mental and physical health. This integrated view is crucial in addressing the complex needs of individuals who experience both depression and chronic physical health issues.
The study’s authors stress that current healthcare systems, which typically treat individual conditions in isolation, must evolve to provide comprehensive care that addresses the interconnected nature of mental and physical health. “People who’ve experienced depression are more likely to develop long-term physical health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes,” said the researchers. “We need healthcare services to take an integrated approach to caring for people with both depression and chronic physical health conditions.”
The findings suggest that proactive, integrated care could help mitigate the accelerated development of physical health issues in individuals with depression, ultimately improving overall health outcomes.
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