Millions of people live with more than one chronic illness. It could be anything from diabetes to heart disease, asthma or joint problems.
But behind those physical symptoms, something else may be quietly building up. A recent study has uncovered a serious risk linked to these common health issues.
And most people never even see it coming.
Certain combinations are far more dangerous
Scientists studied over 142,000 people aged between 37 and 73. None of them had a history of depression, but all had at least one long-term physical illness.
Using data clustering, researchers grouped participants by their specific illness profiles. They then tracked how these combinations influenced future diagnoses with depression.
Some clusters stood out. People with both heart disease and diabetes, for example, had a sharply increased risk. The same applied to those with chronic lung issues, or bowel and liver conditions.
Women with joint and bone disorders were especially affected. The pattern was less clear for men.
In the most vulnerable groups, 1 in 12 developed depression over ten years. That’s double the rate of those with no chronic illness.
A health system
This research sends a clear message. Physical and mental health are deeply connected – but most healthcare systems still treat them separately.
Doctors may focus on the physical symptoms. But in doing so, they might overlook a much bigger issue: the mental toll of managing multiple conditions.
Experts say this approach needs to change. Integrated care that considers both mind and body could be key to better outcomes.
Because what starts in the body can slowly take hold of the mind – often without anyone noticing.
This article is based on information from Eurekalert.org.