Obesity and depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to examine the association between obesity and depressive symptoms among Chinese elderly in Hong Kong. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on depressive symptoms and body mass index from 56 167 clients aged 65 or over who enrolled as members of Elderly Health Centres from July 1998 to December 2000 were analysed using multiple logistic regression with adjustment of potential confounders. RESULTS: Among 18 750 men and 37 417 women, the prevalence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of depressive symptoms (based on the Geriatric Depression Scale) was 4.9% (4.6-5.2%) and 7.9% (7.6-8.1%) respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of obesity (by World Health Organisation Asian standard: body mass index > or =25.0) in women was significantly higher than that of men (42.1% (41.6-42.7%) vs 36.6% (35.9-37.3%), p < 0.001). Obese men and women were about 20% less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms compared with those with normal weight after adjustment for confounders, with odds ratios (95% CI) of 0.82 (0.69-0.97) and 0.78 (0.71-0.86) respectively. Negative linear trends were observed between depressive symptoms and BMI categories in both sexes, and women showed a greater slope and stronger statistical significance than men. CONCLUSIONS: Both obese elderly men and women in Hong Kong were less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms than those of normal weight. The results support the 'jolly fat' hypothesis previously restricted to men, and extend the hypothesis to female elderly. Chinese traditional culture and positive values towards obesity may be protective against depressive symptoms.     

Risk of future depression in people who are obese but metabolically healthy: the English longitudinal study of ageing

There is some evidence to suggest that obesity is a risk factor for the development of depression, although this is not a universal finding. This discordance might be ascribed to the existence of a 'healthy obese phenotype'-that is, obesity in the absence of the associated burden of cardiometabolic risk factors. We examined whether the association of obesity with depressive symptoms is dependent on the individual's metabolic health. Participants were 3851 men and women (aged 63.0±8.9 years, 45.1% men) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a prospective study of community dwelling older adults. Obesity was defined as body mass index 30?kg?m(-2). Based on blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin and C-reactive protein, participants were classified as 'metabolically healthy' (0 or 1 metabolic abnormality) or 'unhealthy' (2 metabolic abnormalities). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and at 2 years follow-up using the 8-item Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Obesity prevalence was 27.5%, but 34.3% of this group was categorized as metabolically healthy at baseline. Relative to non-obese healthy participants, after adjustment for baseline CES-D score and other covariates, the metabolically unhealthy obese participants had elevated risk of depressive symptoms at follow-up (odds ratio (OR)=1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.15), although the metabolically healthy obese did not (OR=1.38; 95% CI, 0.88-2.17). The association between obesity and risk of depressive symptoms appears to be partly dependent on metabolic health, although further work is required to confirm these findings.     

Associations between depressive symptoms and obesity during puberty

BACKGROUND: Adolescent depression has been shown to be associated with later development of obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between depressive symptoms and obesity with progressive pubertal development. METHODS: We conducted an analysis of the association between depressive symptoms and obesity using data from a cross-sectional study of 3101 youth aged 11-17 years. Logistic regression analyses were used to control for maternal education level, race and age. Analyses were stratified by pubertal status and sex to examine how the relationship between depressive symptoms and obesity varies with pubertal development. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms increased with pubertal development for both boys and girls, but the increase was larger for girls. Obesity prevalence was similar for all categories of pubertal development in boys and girls. After controlling for age, pubertal development, parental education and race, an association was noted between depressive symptoms and obesity among both males and females. Youth above the 90th percentile in the depressive symptom score had two times the odds of being obese [males: odds ratio (OR)=1.95, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.19-3.18; females: OR=2.17, 95% CI=1.25-3.77]. With the exception of males in late puberty (OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.29-2.87), the magnitude of this association between depressive symptoms and obesity was similar for all levels of pubertal development, with no apparent increase in later puberty among girls. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms and obesity were associated during adolescence, and this association did not increase with advancing pubertal development.     

Obesity and depressive symptoms in elderly Japanese: the Tsurugaya Project

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the association between obesity and depressive symptoms in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1128 community-dwelling elderly Japanese aged 70 years or older in 2002. We calculated the body mass index [BMI=weight (kg)/height (m)2] from measured weight and height and evaluated depressive symptoms using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 30), with a cut-off point of 11. RESULTS: In men, no apparent association was observed between BMI and depressive symptoms. An inverse linear trend was observed in women overall, but stratified analysis of chronic medical conditions, such as stroke or cancer, showed an inverse association was evident only among women with the conditions. Among women without these chronic conditions, no apparent association was evident. CONCLUSION: No apparent association was observed in men overall or in apparently healthy women. An inverse trend was observed only in women with chronic medical conditions.     

Leisure time physical activity in relation to depressive symptoms in the black women’s health study

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that physical activity might reduce the risk of depressive symptoms, but there are limited data on Black women.Purpose: The objective was to evaluate the association between leisure time physical activity and depressive symptoms in U.S. Black women.Methods: Participants included 35,224 women ages 21 to 69 from the BlackWomen’s Health Study, a follow-up study of African American women in which data are collected biennially by mail questionnaire.Women answered questions on past and current exercise levels at baseline (1995) and follow-up (1997). The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms in 1999. Women who reported a diagnosis of depression before 1999 were excluded. We used multivariate logistic regression models to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for physical activity in relation to depressive symptoms (CES-D score <= 16) with control for potential confounders.Results: Adult vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with depressive symptoms. Women who reported vigorous exercise both in high school (<= 5 hr per week) and adulthood (<= 2 hr per week) had the lowest odds of depressive symptoms (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.71−0.82) relative to never active women; the OR was 0.90 for women who were active in high school but not adulthood (95% CI = 0.85-0.96) and 0.83 for women who were inactive in high school but became active in adulthood (95% CI = 0.77-0.91). Although walking for exercise was not associated with risk of depressive symptoms overall, there was evidence of a weak inverse relation among obese women (Body Mass Index <= 30).Conclusions: Leisure time vigorous physical activity was associated with a reduced odds of depressive symptoms in U.S. Black women. This work was supported by National Cancer Institute grant CA58420. We thank the Black Women’s Health Study participants and staff for their contribution to this study.     

Sociodemographic and Personal Factors Related to Depressive Symptomatology in the Mexican Population Aged 12 to 65

Objective: To describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Mexican population, aged 12 to 65 years, by identifying the main related socio-demographic and personal factors. Methods: Data are drawn from the National Survey on Addictions 2008 (ENA 2008), a random, probabilistic, multistage study. A randomly selected sub-sample of 22,962 persons answered the section on depressive symptomatology, measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: The total prevalence for depressive symptomatology was 5.1%; the prevalence was 7.5% for women and 2.5% for men. For women, more evidence of depressive symptoms was seen in the central region, whereas for men, symptoms were homogeneous across the country. Factors related to the presence of depressive symptoms include being divorced (in women) or widowed (in men), having lower educational attainment, perceiving one's place of residence as unsafe, displaying alcohol abuse or dependence, being a regular drug consumer (in men) and having been sexually abused (males and females). Conclusions: The regional distribution of depressive symptomatology in women indicates the need for region-specific prevention programs that take into account the different social problems that affect women's emotional well-being. More research is also needed to support the early identification and intervention of men suffering from depression.     

Gender differences in depression and PTSD symptoms following combat exposure

Background: This research examined gender as a moderator of the association between combat exposure (CE) and depression as well as CE and PTSD symptoms among a nonclinical sample of Soldiers following deployment in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Methods: Cases included 6,943 (516 women, 6,427 men) active duty Soldiers that were retrospectively analyzed from a pre‐ and post‐deployment screening database at a large Army installation. Results: Gender moderated the association between CE and depressive and PTSD symptoms such that higher levels of CE were more strongly associated with depression and PTSD symptoms in women compared to men. Female Soldiers also reported higher severity of depressive symptoms compared to male Soldiers, whereas men reported higher levels of CE and a greater number of previous deployments compared to women. Conclusions: CE was a stronger predictor of post‐deployment depression and PTSD symptoms for women compared to men. These results provide evidence for gender‐based differences in depression and PTSD risk. Screening for degree of CE in addition to symptoms associated with depression and PTSD can help with the care for service members who are returning from deployments to combat zones. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. Published 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Depressive and anxiety disorders and the association with obesity,physical, and social activities

Objective: There is evidence of more obesity among persons with depressive and depressive and anxiety disorders. However, the nature and the underlying mechanisms of the association are still unclear. This study examines the association between depressive and anxiety disorders and obesity, physical activity, and social activity, and examines whether social and physical activity are potential influencing factors in the association between depressive and anxiety disorders and obesity. Method: Cross‐sectional data were used from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. A total of 1,854 women and 955 men aged 18–65 years were recruited from the community, general practices, and specialized mental health care. Depressive and anxiety disorders were determined with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Body mass index (BMI<30 kg/m²) was used to determine obesity. Physical and social activities were measured by self‐report. Results: The odds of obesity adjusted for covariates was significantly higher among those with a current pure Major Depressive Disorder (MDD;odds ratio [OR] OR:1.43; 95% CI:1.07–1.92) compared to controls. Physical activity and social activities were lower among persons with depressive and anxiety disorders compared to controls. The association between MDD and obesity was influenced by social and physical activities. Conclusion: This study confirmed a link between depressive disorders and obesity that was influenced by lower social and physical activities among the depressed. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Serum cholesterol and depressive symptoms in elderly Finnish men

OBJECTIVE: Evidence from previous studies suggests that alterations in lipid levels may be associated with depression in old age. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between serum lipids and depressive symptoms in a population of elderly men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Altogether 470 men born between 1900 and 1919 were examined in the 30-year follow-up of the Seven Countries Study in 1989. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale was used to determine the depressive status of the subjects. The depressive status was dichotomised and used as the dependent variable in the present study. RESULTS: The depressive status was available for 421 men aged 70 to 89 years in 1989. The prevalence of depression, defined as the Zung sum score equal to or greater than 48, was 15.2% (n = 64). A low serum total cholesterol (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.48-0.94, p = 0.022) and low low density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46-0.98, p = 0.041) were independently associated with depression. No association with depression was found for high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration or HDL/total cholesterol ratio after the adjustment for other putative correlates for depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study of a well-documented population of elderly Finnish men confirms that low total serum cholesterol is associated with a high amount of depressive symptoms independently of weight change or chronic disease. Our study is the first to show an independent association of low LDL-cholesterol concentration with a high amount of depressive symptoms in the old-old.     

Associations between anxiety, depression, and the metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence as to whether the metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with depression or anxiety and, if so, whether this association is gender-specific. This study investigated in each gender whether the MetS is associated with anxiety or depression and whether these relationships are independent of age, obesity, smoking status, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle. METHODS: Metabolic syndrome (American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria), depression, and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were assessed in 1598 subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: In both men and women, the MetS was associated with an increased prevalence of depression but not anxiety. The number of components of the MetS increased with increasing levels of depression but not anxiety. This association between the MetS and depressive symptoms was independent of age, smoking status, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle. The relationship was observed across body mass index categories and was independent of anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The MetS is associated with depression and depressive symptoms but not anxiety irrespective of gender and overweight/obesity status in subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease. These findings suggest a potential importance of screening for depression in patients with the MetS.     

Employment, income, and education and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence for the association of socioeconomic status with prenatal depression has been inconsistent. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between employment, job type, household income, and educational level and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. METHODS: Subjects were 1741 Japanese women. Depressive symptoms were defined as present when subjects had a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of 16 or higher. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, family structure, personal and family history of depression, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work, employment, household income, and education. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy was 19.3%. Compared with unemployment, employment, part-time employment, and full-time employment were significantly associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50 [MINUS SIGN] 0.86), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.46 [MINUS SIGN] 0.95), and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.48 [MINUS SIGN] 0.90), respectively. Regarding the job type held, women with a professional or technical job and those with a clerical or related occupation had a significantly lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted ORs were 0.67 (95% CI: 0.47 [MINUS SIGN] 0.96) and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.43 [MINUS SIGN] 0.90), respectively. Sales, service, production, and other occupations were not significantly related to the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. There were no relationships between household income or education and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Employment, whether full-time or part-time, and holding a professional or technical job or a clerical or related occupation may be inversely associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.     

Gender differences in depressive symptoms among Spanish elderly

The aim of this study is to describe gender differences in depressive symptomatology among an elderly Spanish population and to see whether women are more at risk than men and whether the effects of known risk factors for depression differ between the genders. Data come from the study Envejecer en Leganés (Growing Old in Leganés), where a representative sample of community residing elderly was screened by an at-home interview for high depressive symptomatology using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Sociodemographic characteristics, health status, Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, disability, social support, and locus of control were measured as possible correlates of depressive symptoms. Screening was completed in 1116 subjects. The prevalence of high depressive symptomatology varied, being 19.6% for men and 46% for women (OR=3.4; 95% CI=2.6; 4.5). In addition to gender, comorbidity, low emotional support from children, lack of a confidant, few social activities, and a sense of lack of control were independently associated with high levels of depressive symptoms. None of the interactions of gender by the known risk factors of depression was significant. Although the prevalence of depressive symptomatology is higher in women than in men, the known risk factors do not totally explain the difference between genders in this population of Spanish elderly. This difference could be due to the cultural definitions of gender roles that have affected them throughout their lives. Accepted: 22 July 1997     

Obesity in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: results from a national community health survey on mental health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to ascertain the prevalence of obesity in individuals with a mood disorder (MD) (that is, bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder), compared with the general population. We further aimed to examine the likelihood of an association between obesity and MD, while controlling for the influence of sociodemographic variables. METHOD: The analysis was based on data from Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2), conducted in 2002. The sample (n = 36 984; > or = aged 15 years) was drawn from the Canadian household-dwelling population. The CCHS used diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-IV to screen respondents. RESULTS: Individuals with a lifetime history of MD were more likely to be obese (body mass index [BMI] > 30) than were individuals without lifetime MD (19%, compared with 15%, respectively; P < 0.001). In sex-specific multivariate analysis, lifetime MD was associated with elevated odds of obesity in female respondents (95%CI, 1.03 to 1.46, odds ratio 1.22), but not in male respondents. Antipsychotic pharmacotherapy was also associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Canadian epidemiologic investigation to specifically evaluate anthropometric indices and associated factors in people with MDs. The results herein supplement substantial clinical evidence documenting the association between MDs and stress-sensitive somatic disorders (for example, obesity). These data also underscore the metabolic consequences of some psychotropic agents.     

Lack of association between iron metabolism and depressive mood in an elderly general population

BACKGROUND: Alterations in iron metabolism have been suggested as potential pathological markers in patients with manifest depression. No data on the association between iron and depression exist from population-based studies, in which milder forms of depressive symptoms are much more common. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between six parameters of iron metabolism and depressive mood in a population-based cross-sectional study in Germany. METHODS: A total of 374 participants, aged 65-83 years, of the Memory and Morbidity in Augsburg Elderly (MEMO) Study were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) for depression. Iron, ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and C-reactive protein were analyzed with standard laboratory methods. Linear and logistic regression analyses were applied to evaluate the relationship between iron parameters and depressive mood. RESULTS: The 7-day prevalence of depressive mood was 10.2%, with a higher risk in women compared to men [odds ratio (OR) = 2.04; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.04-4.0]. Correlation and linear regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, hypertension and smoking yielded no significant relationship between any of the iron parameters and the CES-D scores. In gender-stratified analyses a statistically significant association between serum iron and depressive mood was observed in men only. This finding disappeared after applying a Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of association of iron metabolism and depressive mood reported in this population-based study does not support previous findings in patients with major depression. This negative finding in milder forms of depression in elderly people indicates either the absence or a more complex nature of the interactions between iron metabolism, low-grade inflammation and depression.     

Body mass index,waist circumference and waist–hip ratio are associated with depressive symptoms in older Chinese women: results from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study (RuLAS)

Objective: The objective was to determine whether obesity is associated with depressive symptoms among older Chinese.

Methods: Data from the cross-sectional Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study were used including anthropometric measurements (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist–hip ratio (WHR)), socio-demographic characteristics, living habits, physical health and cognitive impairment. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between obesity and depressive symptoms.

Results: Among 1732 elderly Chinese aged 70–84 years, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 6.7% (5.0%–8.5%) in men and 12.5% (10.4%–14.6%) in women. A negative linear trend was found between depressive symptoms and BMI in women (P_{for trend} < 0.05). Women with BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m² had lower chances (OR = 0.41 (0.20–0.84), p = 0.01) to have elevated depressive symptoms compared with their normal weight counterparts. Furthermore, consistent trends were observed with lower depression prevalence rates in higher WC and WHR categories in women. However, no such associations were apparent in men.

Conclusion: Higher BMI, WC and WHR categories were all associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms in older women.     

Prevalence of depression and correlates of depressive symptoms for residents in the urban part of Jeju Island, Korea

AIMS: This study examined the prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms, and the correlates of depressive symptoms, and proposes some methods for reducing risk of depression in residents of the urban part of Jeju Island in Korea. METHODS: In all, 1050 residents were selected using multiphasic cluster sampling to represent each district. Of the 981 respondents, 413 were men and 568 were women. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to evaluate depression (CES-D score over 25) and depressive symptoms (CES-D score over 21). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for comparisons. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in males and females was comparable, at 9.47 and 11.36%, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in men was 15.01%, while in women the level rose to 18.37%. Those with high self-assessed level of stress scores were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with low self-assessed level of stress scores (odds ratio (OR) = 5.73 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.29-25.36)). Residents at high risk of problem drinking (CAGE score over 3) were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with a CAGE score under 1 (OR = 3.43 95% CI, 1.77-6.66). Respondents who slept poorly had more depressive symptoms than respondents who slept well (OR = 2.11 95% CI, 1.37-3.23). Females were significantly more likely to have more depressive symptoms than males (OR = 1.70 95% CI, 1.08-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms in urban Jeju Island is similar to that in a nation-wide sample. By providing intensive mental health services to those who have high stress levels, problem drinking, and poor health behavior, early detection of depressive symptoms in the community will be important for improving general health status.     

Clinically relevant depressive symptoms and peripheral arterial disease in elderly men and women. Results from a large cohort study in Southern China

OBJECTIVE: Results from previous epidemiological studies on the relationship between depression and peripheral arterial diseases (PADs) were mixed. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate this relationship in a large Chinese elderly sample. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the baseline examination of a large cohort study on Chinese elderly were used in this current study. A stratified convenience sample of 3985 Hong Kong men and women aged 65 to 92 were recruited from the community. Clinically relevant depressive symptoms were assessed by the use of a validated screening instrument for depression: the Chinese version of the Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale. PAD was assessed by the ankle-brachial index, with an index of <0.9 indicating the presence of PAD. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare the presence of PAD in depressed and nondepressed subjects, controlling for confounding variables for the relationship. RESULTS: In the total subject population, more severe peripheral atherosclerosis was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive disorders. The presence of peripheral atherosclerosis was associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.46 (95% confidence interval=1.01-2.10) of having clinically relevant depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: We showed that depressive symptoms were associated with peripheral atherosclerosis in the Asian elderly after adjusting for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Prospective studies are needed to provide conclusive evidence on the causality of the relationship between peripheral atherosclerosis and depressive symptoms.     

Association between obesity and depressive symptoms in Mexican population

Purpose

Obesity and depression are among the leading causes of disability in Mexico, but their association has not been explored yet. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between obesity and depression in Mexican population.

Methods

We used data from the health and nutrition survey (ENSANUT 2012), which is representative of the Mexican population. Obesity was determined using the body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity by measuring waist circumference. Depressive symptoms were reported using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Short-Form (CES-D-SF, scale 0–21). Regression analyses were performed between obesity and depression, adjusting for gender, age, living with a partner, education, and diabetes history.

Results

Obese women had 1.28 (95% CI 1.07–1.53) times the odds of having depression in comparison with normal-weight women, whereas no association was found for men (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.74–1.19). A significant association between BMI and depressive symptoms score (β?=?0.05, 95% CI 0.02–0.07) was present in women, but no association was found for men (β?=???0.02, 95% CI ??0.05 to 0.00). There was a statistically significant association between waist circumference and depression scores again for women (β?=?0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.04) but not for men (β?=?0.00, 95% CI ??0.01 to 0.01). No associations were found between abdominal obesity and depression for both genders. No association was found between different obesity severity levels and depression for both genders.

Conclusion

Obesity was associated with depression in Mexican women, whereas no association was found between obesity and depression in men.

     

Sleep-disordered breathing symptoms among African-Americans in the Jackson Heart Study

BackgroundSleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is an increasingly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited data are available from large African American cohorts.MethodsWe examined the prevalence, burden, and correlates of sleep symptoms suggestive of SDB and risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), an all-African-American cohort of 5301 adults. Data on selected daytime and nighttime sleep symptoms were collected using a modified Berlin questionnaire during the baseline examination. Risk of OSA was calculated according to published prediction model. Age and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between potential risk factors and measures of sleep.ResultsSleep symptoms, burden, and risk of OSA were high among men and women in the JHS and increased with age and obesity. Being married was positively associated with sleep symptoms among women. In men, poor to fair perceived health and increased levels of stress were associated with higher odds of sleep burden, whereas prevalent hypertension and CVD were associated with higher odds of OSA risk. Similar associations were observed among women with slight variations. Sleep duration <7 h was associated with increased odds of sleep symptoms among women and increased sleep burden among men. Moderate to severe restless sleep was consistently and positively associated with odds of adverse sleep symptoms, sleep burden, and high risk OSA.ConclusionsSleep symptoms in JHS had a strong positive association with features of visceral obesity, stress, and poor perceived health. With increasing obesity among younger African Americans, these findings are likely to have broad public health implications.