Relationship between depression and lung function in the general population in Korea: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Youngmok Park, Ji Ye Jung, Young Sam Kim, Kyung Soo Chung, Joo Han Song, Song Yee Kim, Eun Young Kim, Young Ae Kang, Moo Suk Park, Joon Chang, Ah Young Leem Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Chest Disease, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea Background: Lung function and depression are closely related to many chronic lung diseases. However, few studies have evaluated this association in the general population. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between lung function and depression in the general population in Korea. Participants and methods: Data from the Ansung–Ansan cohort, a community-based cohort in Korea, were used to analyze the relationships between depression and lung function parameters. A total of 3,321 men and women aged 40–69 years were enrolled. Spirometry data included the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Depression was defined as a score of ≥16 by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A propensity score analysis was conducted with the aim of reducing the bias of the retrospective study. Results: The overall prevalence of depression in the study population was 13.1% (434/3,321 participants). Depression was significantly more prevalent in women than in men (P