Depression: Linked to 3 Chronic Diseases, Study Finds

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that depression is linked to an increased risk of developing three chronic diseases: osteoarthritis, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The study, published in the *UK Biobank*, followed 172,556 volunteers aged 40-71 for 6.9 years. The results showed that participants with depression had an average of three physical ailments, compared to two for those without depression. Furthermore, they developed 0.2 additional ailments per year, compared to 0.16 for participants without depression.

The researchers, led by Kelly Fleetwood, emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches in managing depression, treating it as a condition that affects the entire body.

Source: ygeiamou.gr