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Published on: February 22, 2018

Community-based co-morbidity of depression and chronic physical illnesses in Hong Kong

Sing Lee¹, Yee Ling, Adley Tsang

¹The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China. singlee@cuhk.edu.hk

International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine

|December 21, 2010

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the co-morbidity of depression and chronic physical illnesses in a representative sample of Hong Kong Chinese.

Methods:

Five thousand and four participants aged 18-65 years completed a structured telephone interview on major depressive episode (MDE) and eight chronic physical illnesses.

Results:

21.5% (N = 1078) of respondents had any physical illness in the previous 1 year. Twelve-month MDE was found in 15% (N = 162) of these physically ill respondents and was significantly associated with physical illnesses (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 2.07-3.16, p < 0.001). Number of co-morbid physical illnesses had an incremental association with the risk of MDE.

Conclusion:

Co-morbidity of depression and chronic physical illnesses is common in Hong Kong as in Western countries. This speaks to the need for evidence-based practice that encompasses models of integrated care in Hong Kong.

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