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Association Between Lifetime Affective Symptoms and Premature Mortality
Gemma Archer1,2, Diana Kuh1, Matthew Hotopf2,3
1MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
JAMA Psychiatry
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Lifetime affective symptoms increase mortality risk. Early or repeated symptoms, especially in adolescence, significantly raise premature death rates, influenced by health and behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry and Epidemiology
- Life Course Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Associations between affective symptoms and mortality are known, but life course timing and cumulative exposure remain understudied.
- Understanding these associations is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lifetime accumulation and timing of affective symptoms and mortality.
- To identify potential explanatory factors for these associations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (1946 British birth cohort).
- Assessed affective symptoms at multiple time points (adolescence, age 36, 43, 53).
- Tracked mortality from age 53 to 68 using national health registers.
Main Results:
- Individuals with 1, 2, or 3-4 instances of case-level affective symptoms had 76%, 87%, and 134% higher mortality rates, respectively.
- Adolescent-only symptoms (ages 13-15) were linked to a 94% increased mortality rate, unexplained by covariates.
- Multiple symptom occurrences were largely explained by adult health indicators and behaviors, including health conditions, medication use, and lifestyle factors.
Conclusions:
- Lifetime accumulation of affective symptoms is associated with increased mortality.
- The timing and duration of symptoms influence mortality pathways.
- Future research should consider affective symptom history for interventions.
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