The association between anemia and depression in older adults and the role of treating anemia

Summary & key facts

This study looked at 1,447 older adults (65+) in Quebec. People who said they had anemia but had no record of anemia treatment were more likely to have symptoms of depression. People who had anemia and had treatment did not have higher odds of depression. The study was cross-sectional, used self-reports for anemia, and cannot prove cause and effect; the authors say longer studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Key facts:

• Study sample: 1,447 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older, recruited in Quebec between 2011 and 2013.
• Anemia prevalence: 6.7% of the sample self-reported having anemia.
• How anemia and treatment were measured: anemia was self-reported; treatment was defined as at least one anemia-related prescription in the provincial drug registry during the past 3 years.
• How depression was measured: presence of major or minor depression was based on DSM-5–aligned symptoms in the past 6 months (with some DSM-5 criteria not used).
• Main result: individuals with self-reported anemia who were not treated had about a 2.6-fold higher odds of depression compared to those with no anemia.
• Treated anemia result: individuals with self-reported anemia who had recorded treatment did not have different odds of depression compared to those with no anemia.
• Confounders: the statistical models adjusted for age, sex, marital status, education, income, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, self-reported chronic conditions, and functional status.
• Limitations: the study is cross-sectional (one point in time) and cannot establish cause and effect; the authors call for future longitudinal studies to replicate and extend the findings.

Abstract

The findings underline the importance of treating anemia in older adults. Future longitudinal studies are needed to replicate the findings and further explore the role of treating anemia on symptoms of depression.

Topics

Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders Iron Metabolism and Disorders Optimism, Hope, and Well-being

Categories

Health Sciences Hematology Medicine

Tags

Anemia Confounding Depression (economics) Economics Internal medicine Logistic regression Macroeconomics Medicine Odds Odds ratio