Diabetes differentially affects depression and self-rated health by age in the U.S.

Abstract

To determine whether the relationship between age and physical and mental health varies by diabetes status in older U.S. adults. Using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, a national sample of 3,005 adults aged 57-85 years, we tested the significance of the interaction between age and diabetes in association with health states. Respondents with diabetes in the youngest age cohort had more medical conditions than those without diabetes, a difference that narrowed with age (P for interaction <0.01). The youngest cohort with diabetes had a higher rate of depression compared to those without diabetes (14 vs. 8%). Depression declined with age and did not differ by diabetes status in the oldest respondents (P = 0.01 for age-diabetes interaction). Diabetes differentially affects self-rated overall health and depression by age, with convergence in the oldest age-group with and without diabetes.