Demographic predictors of major depressive disorder among patients with iron deficiency anemia: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study
5 affiliations
- 1University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
- 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona
- 3Department of Anesthesiology, Brooke Army Medical Center
- 4Department of Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine and Palliative Medicine, University of California
- 5Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California
Abstract
Background Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been increasingly associated with neuropsychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder (MDD). However, demographic variation in documented MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA remains underexplored in large clinical populations. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional observational study using de-identified electronic health records from 8,593 adult patients at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2017–2024). IDA was identified using ICD-10-CM codes, and MDD was classified as single-episode or recurrent. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity was used to assess demographic variation in MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA. Results Among 8,593 patients with IDA, single-episode MDD was present in 23.2% and recurrent MDD in 7.2%. Female patients demonstrated significantly higher odds of single-episode MDD (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.35–1.72) and recurrent MDD (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.50–2.28) compared with males. Adults ≥ 55 years demonstrated increased odds of single-episode MDD (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.27–2.08 and OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.76, respectively), with no significant association observed for recurrent MDD. Asian individuals had significantly lower odds of single-episode (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.37–0.52) and recurrent MDD (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.52) than White patients. Conclusion This large cross-sectional study identified significant demographic variation in documented MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA. These findings help characterize patterns of psychiatric comorbidity within IDA populations and motivate future longitudinal studies examining the relationship between IDA and depressive disorders.
Related
- Baseline Predictors of Crestal Bone Maintenance and Implant Stability Following Immediate Implant Placement With Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A Retrospective Observational Study.
- Anxiety and depressive symptoms in women with disabilities during pregnancy and childbirth: an analysis of Nepal demographic and health survey 2022 data.
- Predictors of modern contraceptive use among reproductive-aged women (15-49 years) in Mozambique: Evidence from Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey.
- Complications and predictors of catheter failure in pediatric long peripheral and midline catheters: a prospective observational study
- Predictors of Early Mortality After Open Aorto-Iliac Reconstruction in Patients with Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease: An Observational Cohort Study
BibTeX
@article{yu2026demographic,
title = {{Demographic predictors of major depressive disorder among patients with iron deficiency anemia: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study}},
author = {Crystal Yu and Christian R. Hardoy and Maria T. Paulino and Ellee P. Vikram and Jacob F. Giffin and Anna S. Aledia and Rimal Bera and Alpesh N. Amin},
journal = {BMC Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12888-026-08389-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08389-z},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Demographic predictors of major depressive disorder among patients with iron deficiency anemia: a retrospective cross-sectional observational study
AU - Crystal Yu
AU - Christian R. Hardoy
AU - Maria T. Paulino
AU - Ellee P. Vikram
AU - Jacob F. Giffin
AU - Anna S. Aledia
AU - Rimal Bera
AU - Alpesh N. Amin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC Psychiatry
DO - 10.1186/s12888-026-08389-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08389-z
AB - Background Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been increasingly associated with neuropsychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder (MDD). However, demographic variation in documented MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA remains underexplored in large clinical populations. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional observational study using de-identified electronic health records from 8,593 adult patients at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2017–2024). IDA was identified using ICD-10-CM codes, and MDD was classified as single-episode or recurrent. Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, race, and ethnicity was used to assess demographic variation in MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA. Results Among 8,593 patients with IDA, single-episode MDD was present in 23.2% and recurrent MDD in 7.2%. Female patients demonstrated significantly higher odds of single-episode MDD (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.35–1.72) and recurrent MDD (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.50–2.28) compared with males. Adults ≥ 55 years demonstrated increased odds of single-episode MDD (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.27–2.08 and OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.12–1.76, respectively), with no significant association observed for recurrent MDD. Asian individuals had significantly lower odds of single-episode (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.37–0.52) and recurrent MDD (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28–0.52) than White patients. Conclusion This large cross-sectional study identified significant demographic variation in documented MDD diagnoses among patients with IDA. These findings help characterize patterns of psychiatric comorbidity within IDA populations and motivate future longitudinal studies examining the relationship between IDA and depressive disorders.
SN - 1471-244X
ER -