Co-morbid Health Conditions in Latinx Adults Receiving Care for Depression and Anxiety

Abstract Objectives Multi-morbidity greatly increases the complexity of managing disease, particularly among underserved populations who also suffer from mental health disorders. Multi-morbidity is also more likely to worsen outcomes and reduce positive behavioral changes due to coexisting depression or anxiety, complicating global/individual health care needs. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of having three or more chronic conditions in Latinx patients receiving medical care at Caridad Center who suffer from depression and anxiety. Methods A needs assessment was conducted on Latinx patients who sought care for mental health from Caridad Center in Boynton Beach, FL to determine which co-morbidities they experience. Medical records of 100 random patients diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety were obtained to collect data on demographics, diagnoses of health conditions, and biomedical laboratory information. Descriptive statistics were used to obtain the means, standard deviations, and frequencies for each respective variable type. Results The mean age was 51.9 ± 11.9 years and majority were female, 79.4%. Out of the 100 individuals, 43% were diagnosed with depression, 38% with anxiety and 17% with both depression and anxiety. In those with depression, 54% had ≥3CVD risk factors, 39% had ≥3 diagnosed co-morbidities, 47% had hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and 38% had type 2 diabetes. Additionally, 43% of those with anxiety had ≥ 3 CVD risk factors, 31% ≥3 diagnosed co-morbidities, 46% had hypertension, 41% had hyperlipidemia and 31% had type 2 diabetes. The overall sample had mean BMIs indicative of overweight/obese (30.0 ± 5.9 kg/m2). Plasma glucose (119.5 ± 52.3 mg/dL), hemoglobin A1C (8.4 ± 2.8%), and triglyceride levels (141.2 ± 72.9 mg/dL) were above normal limits and glomerular filtration rate (39.0 ± 45.5 ml/min) was below the recommended level, indicative of Chronic Kidney Disease. Conclusions Completion of a needs assessment from Caridad Center, the largest provider of free medical and mental health services in Florida, demonstrated that multi-morbidity were prevalent among the Latinx sample afflicted by depression and/or anxiety. More work is needed to further investigate how lifestyle and other risk factors interplay with the severity of mental illness in this population. Funding Sources FIU RCMI/NIMHD.