Abstract
Background
There is consistent evidence of the co-occurrence of poor mental health and asthma in Western populations. Since the experience
and expression of mental health is partly culturally determined, it is of interest to examine if similar associations are
found in other cultural settings. In that regard, very little is known about the association between mental health and asthma
in Asian countries, such as China.
and expression of mental health is partly culturally determined, it is of interest to examine if similar associations are
found in other cultural settings. In that regard, very little is known about the association between mental health and asthma
in Asian countries, such as China.
Method
We used data from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study phase 3 (n = 9,280). Participants reported physician-diagnosed asthma. Mental health measures included the 15-item Chinese version of
the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-C) and the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. We compared the prevalence of asthma
by GDS-C and MCS scores by estimating prevalence ratios (PRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), using
Poisson regression.
the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-C) and the SF-12 Mental Component Summary (MCS) score. We compared the prevalence of asthma
by GDS-C and MCS scores by estimating prevalence ratios (PRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), using
Poisson regression.
Results
Compared to those without depression, the prevalence of asthma was higher in those with moderate or severe depression levels
(PR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58–4.40 and PR = 4.43, 95% CI = 1.62–12.09, p for trend ≤0.0001). The prevalence of asthma increased by 46% with every 1 standard deviation increase of the GDS-C score
(PR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.24–1.73). The MCS score was not associated with asthma.
(PR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.58–4.40 and PR = 4.43, 95% CI = 1.62–12.09, p for trend ≤0.0001). The prevalence of asthma increased by 46% with every 1 standard deviation increase of the GDS-C score
(PR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.24–1.73). The MCS score was not associated with asthma.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Short Communication
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-012-9222-9
- Authors
- Chao Qiang Jiang, Guangzhou No.12 People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Adrian Loerbroks, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Kin-bong Hubert Lam, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- Jos A. Bosch, Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- G. Neil Thomas, Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- Wei Sen Zhang, Guangzhou No.12 People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Kar Keung Cheng, Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- Tai Hing Lam, School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Peymané Adab, Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503