Prevalence and factors associated with depression among older adults reporting pain: findings from the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey

This study examines whether self‑reported pain increases the odds of depression among older Medicare Advantage enrollees and whether this association differs by gender. Using survey data from 75,015 adults assessed at baseline and two‑year follow‑up, we found that persistent pain was associated with significantly higher odds of self‑reported depression for both men and women, even after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors. Men with pain had a greater relative increase in depression risk than women. These results suggest that routine assessment of pain may help identify older adults at elevated risk for depression and support more targeted screening and intervention.