Trends in the Prevalence and Incidence of Anxiety and Depression in Adult Population in Iran: Findings from Kerman Coronary Artery Diseases Risk factors Study (KERCADRS)

Abstract

Background: Anxiety and depression (A&D) are very common disorders and among the important causes of morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the incidence rate of these mental disorders and their relationship with socio-demographic and coronary artery disease risk factors in the adult population in southeastern Iran.Method: In a population based cohort study (KERCADRS phase2), the prevalence and five-year incidence rate of A&D and associated variables were studied on 9996 adults, 2820 of whom had also participated in phase1 of the study.Results: The prevalence for A&D was 41.6% (30.6% men, 48.9% women) and 16.0% (10.0% men, 19.9% women), respectively. The prevalence of A&D showed a decreasing trend with increase of education and age. The highest prevalence of A&D was observed among the unemployed, smokers, and opium users. The chance of having A&D symptoms also significantly increased in young people, the female gender, divorced or widowed women, obese individuals, and those with low physical activity (LPA). In phase2, A&D were significantly lower than they were in phase1 in all age groups and in both genders. The five-year incidence rate (per 1000 person-years) was 30.7 for anxiety and 9.8 for depression.Conclusion: Although there are some promising signs of reduction in the prevalence of A&D symptoms in the last five years, their higher prevalence in young people and females, along with their association with unemployment, smoking, opium use, LPA and obesity means that more effective interventions and strategies are needed to reduce the deleterious consequences of these disorders.