Association of self-reported arthritis with depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression/anxiety among the older Chinese adults: A cross-sectional study.

Arthritis is relatively common among middle-aged and older people and is a significant public health problem. However, research on the relationship between arthritis and mental health in older populations is currently limited. Data were obtained from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale were used to evaluate depressive and anxiety symptoms. Arthritis status was self-reported. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the impact of arthritis on depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression/anxiety symptoms. A total of 11,104 participants aged ≥65 years (mean age, 83.1 ± 11.1 years) were included in the analysis. We detected positive associations of arthritis with depression symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.57, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.33 to 1.86), anxiety symptoms (adjusted OR: 1.48, 95 % CI: 1.15 to 1.90), and comorbid depression/anxiety symptoms (adjusted OR: 1.88, 95 % CI: 1.41 to 2.5) in the older adult population. Participants with arthritis had higher anxiety (adjusted linear regression coefficient: 0.43, 95 % CI: 0.24 to 0.63) and depression (adjusted linear regression coefficient: 0.87, 95 % CI: 0.57 to 1.14) scores compared with those without arthritis. In addition, there were no significant interaction effects between arthritis and participant characteristics on depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, or comorbid depression/anxiety symptoms. Arthritis was positively associated with depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and comorbid depression/anxiety symptoms among older adults. Further cohort studies are needed to validate these associations. • Given population aging occurring in China, arthritis cases among older adults will continue to increase. • Evidence linking arthritis with anxiety, comorbid depression/anxiety is scarce in elderly adults. • Arthritis is associated with higher risk of depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression/anxiety in the older adults. • More attention should be paid to arthritis in older adults to aid early detection of mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]