Physical comorbidities of MDD

This analysis was a naturalistic 12-year follow-up of general hospital admissions, comparing patients with MDD and age-matched controls visiting one of three hospitals in Manchester, UK, between January 2000 and June 2012.¹ The sample comprised the >360,000 patients admitted in that period, from which the >9,600 patients with depression, and >96,000 age-matched controls were taken.¹

A wide range of comorbidities were identified as being more prevalent in patients with MDD compared with the age-matched controls.¹ Interestingly, incidences of ‘cataract’ and ‘angina’ were shown to have decreased prevalence in the MDD population.¹ The authors are clear about possible limitations to their study, which include lacking any data about medication usage.¹ It is possible that some of the associations identified in the study are linked to adverse effects of medications, rather than the depression itself.¹

Reference:
1.Schoepf D, Uppal H, Potluri R, et al. Comorbidity and its relevance on general hospital based mortality in major depressive disorder: a naturalistic 12-year follow-up in general hospital admissions. J Psychiatr Res 2014; 52: 28–35.