Perceived indoor annoyances at home and risk of incident depression: A Danish register-based cohort study, 2000-2018

BACKGROUND: Exposures from the indoor environment can cause multiple annoyances that might increase the risk of depression. This study examines the association between perceived indoor annoyances at home and incident depression.

METHODS: This cohort study is based on data from 16,688 individuals (aged ≥16 years) who participated in the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey in the year 2000. Perceived levels of annoyances (few, moderate, and many) were based on information on perceived noise, low light levels, odor, and thermal discomfort in the home environment. Individuals were followed up to 19 years after inclusion through national registries. A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution analyzed associations between perceived annoyances and incident rates of depression. Incidence rate ratios were adjusted for age, sex, educational level, cohabitation status, smoking status, years of residence at baseline, interview season, and calendar year.

RESULTS: Of the eligible 15,166 individuals, a total of 2,139 developed depression during the follow-up period. The incident rate of depression per 10,000 person-years was 241, 171, and 154 for many, moderate, and few perceived annoyances in the indoor environment at home. Individuals with many and moderate perceived annoyances had an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 1.87) and 1.14 (95% CI = 0.94, 1.36) for developing depression compared with individuals with few perceived annoyances.

CONCLUSION: The results show that individuals with moderate and many perceived annoyances in the indoor environment at home had a higher incidence rate of depression than individuals with few perceived annoyances.