Longitudinal association between possible sarcopenic obesity and depression among the middle-aged and the elderly: The evidence from CHARLS

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Currently, the association of depression with sarcopenia and obesity status is unclear. We investigated the role of three types of possible sarcopenic obesity [possible sarcopenic central obesity (PSCO), possible sarcopenic general obesity (PSGO), possible sarcopenic visceral obesity (PSVO)] as risk factors for depression among the middle-aged and the elderly. Methods We adopted a longitudinal design utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We evaluated depression using the CES-D-10. Basic characteristics analysis and age-stratified logistic regression models were employed. Results 6 006 participants without depression and 1 853 with depression were included. Among middle-aged participants, associations were observed in possible sarcopenia with obesity (PS/O) group (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.02–3.12, p = 0.043) and possible sarcopenia without obesity (PS) group (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.16–2.13, p = 0.003) after full-adjustment regarding PSGO. The associations within PSVO mirrored those observed in PSGO. For PSCO, only PS group demonstrated an association (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.12–2.45, p = 0.011) after full-adjustment. Among the elderly, the PS group (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03–1.57, p = 0.027) exhibited an increased risk of depression after full-adjustment regarding PSGO. No association was detected after full-adjustment in PSVO and PSCO. The results obtained through complete case and multiple imputation method were comparable, although multiple imputation revealed more significant associations between PS group and depression within PSCO and PSVO in the elderly. Conclusion For the middle-aged, PSGO and PSVO were significantly associated with depression. Moreover, PSGO and PSVO were superior to PSCO as risk factors for depression. For the elderly, possible sarcopenia was significantly associated with depression.