Association between depressive symptoms and tuberculosis diagnosis stage in older adults: a 4-year longitudinal cohort study in rural South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

While tuberculosis (TB) is associated with increased depressive symptoms, the long-term mental health trajectory post-diagnosis in low-resource settings remains poorly understood. This study investigated the longitudinal progression of depressive symptoms among individuals diagnosed with TB and evaluated whether symptom severity persisted or attenuated over time.

Design

Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa. Population-based cohort study.

Setting

Rural Agincourt subdistrict, Mpumalanga province, South Africa, a high-TB-burden, resource-constrained region.

Participants

Adults aged 40 years and older who were permanent residents of the Agincourt subdistrict (N=5059 at baseline).

Outcome measures

SUBMITTER: Eyal K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12706101 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature