Most older adults with COPD are mentally flourishing, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Sally Abudiab and Esme Fuller Thomson, PhD, MSW, assessed the mental health of 703 older adults with COPD (aged 50 and older), compared with 10,189 peers without COPD, and sought to identify factors
associated with complete mental health. A significantly lower prevalence of absence of psychiatric disorders (86.7% vs 95.0%) and complete mental health (66.7% vs 77.0%) were seen among those with COPD versus those without. Absence of psychiatric disorders and having complete mental health with COPD were significantly associated with being married, having a confidant, being physically active, and having no lifetime history of major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. The odds of the absence of psychiatric disorder declined by 31% for every additional adverse childhood experience. “These findings underline the importance of targeted interventions and outreach to those most vulnerable to poorer mental health outcomes, including the socially isolated,” the study authors wrote.
