Study of the Relationship between Oral Diseases and Depression Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Adult Populations in China—A Retrospective Study Based on CHARLS Data

  Objective   To study the relationship between oral disease and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adult populations in China.

  Methods   The data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) done between 2013 and 2015 were analyzed. A total of 3828 middle-aged and older adults showing no depressive symptoms in an assessment with the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) were selected as the subjects of observation, and oral disease was taken as the dependent variable. Changes in depressive symptoms in the population were tracked in 2015, and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the relationship between oral diseases and depressive symptoms.

  Results   The detection rate of depressive symptoms was 29.3% in middle-aged and older adults with oral diseases, and that of middle-aged and older adults without oral diseases was 20.4%, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.001). After controlling for confounding factors, Cox proportional hazards model analysis found an association between oral diseases and depressive symptoms (hazard ratio HR=0.683, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.583-0.800). It was more likely for middle-aged and older women (HR=0.708, 95% CI: 0.573-0.874) with oral diseases to develop depressive symptoms than men (HR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.506-0.819) did (P<0.05).

  Conclusion   Oral diseases in the middle-aged and older adult populations tended to lead to depressive symptoms, and women showed higher rate than men did. Prevention and control measures should be taken actively in the course of oral disease treatment to promote mental health of middle-aged and older adults.