The Relationship between Chronic Comorbidity and Depression in Older Adults:the Serial Mediation of Physical Functional Impairment and Cognitive Function
10.11783/j.issn.1002-3674.2025.04.007
- VernacularTitle:老年人慢性病共病与抑郁之间的关系
- Author:
Xi CHEN
1
;
Miaoling WU
;
Yaxin ZHU
Author Information
1. 中国医科大学健康管理学院 110122
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Older adult;
Chronic comorbidity;
Physical functional impairment;
Cognitive function;
Depression
- From:
Chinese Journal of Health Statistics
2025;42(4):516-518,526
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the serial mediating roles of physical functional impairment and cognitive function between chronic comorbidity and depression in older adults.Methods Based on 5773 older adults with at least one chronic disease from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey as study subjects,Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between chronic comorbidities,physical functional impairment,cognitive function,and depression in older adults,and serial mediating effects were analyzed using the model 6 in Process 3.3 of SPSS.Results 4465 older adults(77.34%)had chronic comorbidities,and the direct effect of chronic comorbidities on depression in older adults was significant,with an effect size of 1.737(95%CI:1.373-2.101),the separate mediating effect of physical functional impairment was significant,with an effect size of 0.535(95%CI:0.432-0.642);the separate mediating effect of cognitive function was not significant,with an effect size of-0.037(95%CI:-0.086 to 0.011);the serial mediating effect of physical functional impairment and cognitive function was significant,with an effect size of 0.027(95%CI:0.018 to 0.037).Conclusion Chronic comorbidity promotes the development of depression in older adults and indirectly influences the development of depression through physical functional impairment and poorer cognitive function.Therefore,in order to avoid the onset or exacerbation of depression in older adults with chronic diseases,it is important to enhance the ability of this group to care for themselves in daily life as well as to promote the recovery of cognitive function,especially in older adults with chronic comorbidities.
