A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals that people with multiple chronic health conditions experience persistently high levels of anxiety, depression, and decreased physical function as they age. The research also uncovered a significant racial disparity, with non-white participants reporting worse health-related quality of life as their chronic conditions increased compared to their white counterparts.
The study, to be published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences on January 29, analyzed data from adults in late midlife and older adulthood in the Chicago area.
“As people get older, it’s not just that they develop hypertension and that’s it. It’s that these conditions — which are often very manageable — start to accumulate, and, unfortunately, along with that come some negative quality-of-life side effects,” said Eileen Graham, associate professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author.
Graham expressed disappointment at the stark racial disparity revealed by the findings. “This points to a greater need to understand how the health care system can better support people from underrepresented communities,” she stated.
The research found higher depression rates among individuals with circulatory, musculoskeletal, metabolic, and respiratory diseases. Graham suggested that anxiety may stem from the complexities of managing multiple health conditions, including coordinating with multiple doctors and navigating potentially conflicting medications.
The study highlights the need for improved care coordination and support networks for patients managing multiple chronic conditions, particularly among racial minorities.
See “With age, accumulating health problems increase risk of depression and anxiety” by Kristin Samuelson on the Northwestern University website (January 25, 2024)
