Arthritis and Depression Often Occur Together in Older Adults

Arthritis is common in individuals with varying degrees of depression, according to a study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and cited by EurekAlert! . The analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey on U.S. adults aged 50 years and older found that the prevalence of arthritis was 55.0 percent, 62.9 percent, and 67.8 percent in participants with minor, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. The findings highlight the importance of screening for and treating arthritis-related pain in older adults with depressive symptoms, said the researchers.