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

Abstract

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<0.001) and in never smokers than in ever smokers (P<0.001). The group with depression was older (P<0.001) and had a lower average body mass index (BMI) (P=0.015) than the group without depression. The FEV₁ (P<0.001), FVC (P<0.001), and FEV₁/FVC ratio (P=0.022) were significantly lower in the group with depression than in the group without depression. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status, the mean FEV₁ was lower in the group with a high BDI score than in the group with a low BDI score (P=0.044). Using multiple linear regression analysis and adjusting for covariates, no statistically significant relationship between lung function and the BDI score was found. However, the BDI score and FEV₁ were inversely related in subjects older than 50 years (P=0.023).

Conclusion

Depression is associated with decreased lung function in the general population, especially in adults older than 50 years.

Keywords:

• Beck Depression Inventory
• COPD
• depression
• lung function

Author contributions

YP contributed to the acquisition of data, analysis, and drafting the article. JYJ, KSC, and JHS contributed to the data analysis. SYK, EYK, YSK, and YAK contributed to the conception and design. MSP and JC contributed to the data analysis and revising the article critically. AYL contributed to the conception, design, and revising the article critically. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.