MAJOR DEPRESSION AND ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY AMONG WHITE ADULTS IN THE UNITED-STATES

PURPOSE: Depression is the most common psychiatric illness affecting a dults. Despite the importance oi a potential link between major depres sion and mortality, research has been surprisingly sparse. METHODS: In formation on 57,897 white adults aged 25 years and older who were incl uded in the mental health supplement oi the 1989 National Health inter view Survey was linked with the National Death Index to examine the re lationship of major depression to mortality. Death status was obtained through December 1991. Sex-specific hazard rate ratios for mortality were calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression and Poisson reg ression to adjust for potential confounders (age, education, marital s tatus, body mass index, and whether the target subject or a family mem ber completed the survey about the subject). RESULTS: Major depression was reported for 223 (0.8%) of 27,345 men and 392 (1.30%) of 30,552 w omen. During the 2.5-year follow up, death certificate data were obtai ned for 848 (3.1%) men and 651 (2.1%) women. The adjusted hazard rate ratios for all cause mortality associated with major depression were 3 .1 (95% confidence interval; 2.0-4.9) for men and 1.7 (95% confidence interval; 0.9-3.1) for women. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that major depression increases risk of all cause mortality, particularly a mong men. Further research is needed to explain the mechanism. (C) 199 7 by Elsevier Science Inc.