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- Title
Additive role of loneliness in depression-induced multimorbidity development in older people.
- Authors
De La Torre-Luque, A.; Lara, E.; Rico-Uribe, L.; De La Fuente, J.; Caballero, F.; Sanchez-Niubo, A.; Haro, J. M.; Ayuso-Mateos, J. L.; Lopez-Garcia, P.
- Abstract
Introduction: Robust evidence points to bidirectional associations between late-life depression and physical disease development. Depression accompanied with loneliness may show worse prognosis and higher levels of symptom severity in old age. However, little is known about the role of loneliness in the relationship between depression and multimorbidity development. Objectives: To study the influence of depression with loneliness on chronic disease development later in life. Methods: Data from the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project were used. The sample comprised 2328 older adults (55.37% women; M = 61.16 years at baseline, SD = 6.52) from two European countries (UK and Czech Republic). Three groups were formed: control group (CG); depressive symptom episode group (DEP); a group with depression and loneliness (DEP+LONE). Number of multimorbid conditions (comprising 18 physical diseases) was predicted at a follow-up (arithmetic mode of follow-up = 4 years) considering a metabolic score and diseases at baseline, study group and other relevant sociodemographic and health-related factors. The analyses were conducted separately by men and women. Results: DEP+LONE membership significantly predicted the multimorbidity in both sexes. Over 50% of women and 54% of men from the DEP+LONE group showed two or more physical conditions at follow-up. Additionally, DEP group membership predicted multimorbidity at follow-up in men (p < .01). Conclusions: These results highlight the relevant contribution of loneliness in depression-related metabolic dysregulation in chronic condition development, probably by means of metabolic dysregulation boosting. This study claims for action to reduce the impact of loneliness in old age and to promote healthy ageing.
- Subjects
CZECH Republic; UNITED Kingdom; LONELINESS; OLDER people; COMORBIDITY; OLD age; SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC factors; MENTAL depression
- Publication
European Psychiatry, 2020, Vol 63, pS364
- ISSN
0924-9338
- Publication type
Article