Trends in the prevalence and incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Iran:findings from KERCADRS

Objectives Anxiety and depression(A&D)are common mental disorders with high economical and health burdens.This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the incidence rate of A&D symptoms and their relationship with sociodemographic and other risk factors and comorbidities in adults living in southeastern Iran.Design A population-based cohort study with random cluster household survey sampling method.Setting Second round of Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Study(KERCADRS)(2014-2018)performed in Southeastern,Iran.Participants We recruited 9997 participants(15-80 years)in the second round of the study,from whom 2820 persons were the people who also participated in the first round of KERCADRS in 2009-2012.The age-standardised A&D prevalence was measured among all participants,and the 5-year A&D incidence rate was measured in those who were free from A&D in the first round in 2009-2012 and were at risk of A&D in the follow-up.The relationship between A&D and demographic characteristics,smoking,opium use,obesity and physical activity was assessed by logistic regression models.Results Overall,the prevalence of anxiety(48.1%to 16.4%,p<0.001)and depression(5.9%to 1.3%,p<0.001)decreased between the two rounds.The highest prevalence of anxiety was among widowed(31.4%),unemployed(21.3%),obese(19.4%),and opium users(17.4%).Young adults,women,those divorced or widowed,and those with obesity and low physical activity had a higher chance of developing anxiety.The 5-year incidence rate(person/1000 person-years)was 15.0 for anxiety and 3.9 for depression.Conclusion Despite the overall decrease in the prevalence of A&D symptoms in last 5 years in the area,young adults,women,unemployed,opium users,people with low physical activity and those with obesity had a higher chance of developing anxiety and are in need of more targeted interventions.