Depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in early pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
Depressive symptoms can be associated with lower health-related quality of life in late pregnancy. Few studies have quantified the effect of depressive symptoms in early pregnancy or among a racially and economically diverse group. Our goal was to estimate the independent association of depressive symptoms with health-related quality of life among a diverse group of women in early pregnancy.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 175 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in a community and university-based setting. We related the presence of depressive symptoms, defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score of 16 or more to health-related quality of life scores from the 8 Medical Outcomes Study Short Form domains: Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Bodily Pain, Vitality, General Health, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health. Quantile regression was used to measure the independent association of depressive symptoms with each of the 8 domains.


RESULTS
The study sample was 49% African American, 38% white, and 11% Asian. Mean (+/- standard deviation) gestational age was 14 +/- 6 weeks. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15%. Women with depressive symptoms had significantly lower health-related quality of life scores in all domains except Physical Functioning. After adjustment for sociodemographic, clinical, and social support factors, depressive symptoms were associated with health-related quality of life scores that were 30 points lower in Role-Physical, 19 points lower in Bodily Pain, 10 points lower in General Health, and 56 points lower in Role-Emotional.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in early pregnancy with depressive symptoms have poor health-related quality of life. Early identification and management of depressive symptoms in pregnant women may improve their sense of well-being.


METHODS
II-2.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, Clinical Research, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. wnichol@jhmi.edu
Wanda K
WK
Nicholson
Rosanna
R
Setse
Felicia
F
Hill-Briggs
Lisa A
LA
Cooper
Donna
D
Strobino
Neil R
NR
Powe
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011336:Probability; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires