Improvement in depressive symptoms and changes in self-rated health among community-dwelling disabled older adults

This study investigated the association between improvement in depressive symptoms and changes in self-rated health among community-dwelling disabled older adults over time. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied using the 1993 and 1995 Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest-Old Survey data. Changes in depressive symptoms and changes in self-rated health clearly coincide. Among participants with functional disability in 1993 and 1995, a decrease in depressive symptoms was associated with decreased odds of having decline in self-rated health (odds ratio OR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval CI], 0.78-0.93) and was associated with increased odds of having improvement in self-rated health (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27). Similar results were also found among participants with no functional disability in 1993 and with functional disability in 1995. Among community-dwelling older adults who remained disabled at follow-up or who experienced disability only at follow-up, even just a small decrease in depressive symptoms was associated with increased odds of having improvement in self-rated health and with decreased risks of having decline in self-rated health. Reducing the number of symptoms of depression among these disabled older adults would be beneficial in improving their self-rated health as well as maintaining and promoting their quality of life.