Trends in the prevalence and incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Iran: findings from KERCADRS

ObjectivesAnxiety and depression (A&D) are common mental disorders with high economical and health burdens. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the incidence rate of A&D symptoms and their relationship with sociodemographic and other risk factors and comorbidities in adults living in southeastern Iran.DesignA population-based cohort study with random cluster household survey sampling method.SettingSecond round of Kerman Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Study (KERCADRS) (2014–2018) performed in Southeastern, Iran.ParticipantsWe recruited 9997 participants (15–80 years) in the second round of the study, from whom 2820 persons were the people who also participated in the first round of KERCADRS in 2009–2012. The age-standardised A&D prevalence was measured among all participants, and the 5-year A&D incidence rate was measured in those who were free from A&D in the first round in 2009–2012 and were at risk of A&D in the follow-up. The relationship between A&D and demographic characteristics, smoking, opium use, obesity and physical activity was assessed by logistic regression models.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of anxiety (48.1% to 16.4%, p