The Challenge of Coming Out to Providers by Gay and Bisexual Men With Prostate Cancer: Qualitative Results from the Restore Study.

This study investigates the experience of communicating sexual orientation by gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBM) to physicians involved in their prostate cancer care. Methodology consisted of qualitative analysis conducted on 30 in-depth interviews of GBM recruited from a national online cancer support site. Results revealed four key strategies around sexual disclosure. These ranged from explicitly outing themselves to selective or non-disclosure. Disclosures had unpredictable multiple outcomes ranging from increased trust in the patient-physician relationship to seeking alternate treatment. We concluded competent care is achieved when physicians know their patient's sexual orientation, and are trained in them.

The Effect of Medicaid Expansion on Caregiver's Quality of Life.

Medicaid expansion has been shown to improve access to care, health, and finances in general populations. Until now no studies have considered how Medicaid expansion may affect informal family caregivers who are the backbone of the long term supports and services infrastructure. Family caregivers provide substantial cost savings to Medicare and Medicaid. Yet, they sustain financial, physical, and mental health strain from their caregiving role which Medicaid expansion may offset. This study evaluated the impact of Medicaid expansion on caregivers' mental health using 2015-2018 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. After adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and health behaviors, caregivers in Medicaid expansion states had a significantly fewer number of poor mental health days in the previous month than caregivers in non-expansion states (ß = -0.528, CI -1.019, -0.036, p < .01). Study findings indicate that Medicaid expansion state status was protective for caregiver's mental health.

The Reliability of Self-Reported Gleason Scores in Studies of Sexual Minority Prostate Cancer Survivors.

In two studies, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors report lower Gleason scores than heterosexual prostate cancer survivors, leading some to speculate that men who have sex with men may have more intensive screening than other men. In the largest study of men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors to date, 23 of 193 (11.9%) men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors reported low Gleason scores (2-5). We contacted 14 of them, a 61 percent response rate. At second interview, most men clarified that they reported only a partial score rather than the sum score. We conclude the average lower score is not a result of differences in screening but likely measurement error. A revised Gleason item question is provided to overcome this research artifact.

Diabetes stigma, parent depressive symptoms and Type-1 diabetes glycemic control in India.

Diabetes distress and stigma have been associated with worse patient outcomes in developed countries. However, diabetes stigma has not been studied in low and middle-income countries where clinical practices differ, diabetes awareness is lower, and families face different challenges for supporting children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This study assessed the relationship between parental depression and diabetes stigma with a child's glycemic control in a clinic-based survey in Nagpur, India. The association between self-reported T1D stigma, depressive symptoms, and child's measured glycemic control (HbA1C) was assessed with data from 165 of the parents of school-aged (aged 5+) children receiving clinical T1D care at an urban nonprofit organization that provides free clinical care to children with Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) in India. Parents with moderate/severe depressive symptoms who experience stigma associated with their child's diabetes had children with significantly worse glycemic control than parents with no/mild depressive symptoms who experience the same amount of stigma. Higher reports of stigma were associated with an average of 0.65 points higher HbA1C (ß = 0.65, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.18, 1.13) for parents with moderate/severe than parents with mild/no depressive symptoms. Indian parents with depressive symptoms who face social stigma associated with their child's diabetes have children with worse T1D outcomes.

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults have Higher Prevalence of Illicit Opioid Use than Heterosexual Adults: Evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2017.

Purpose: We estimated illicit opioid use prevalence among LGB and heterosexual adults. Methods: Cross-sectional National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2015-2017) were used to estimate illicit opioid use prevalence by sexual identity, age, and gender. Results: An estimated 1.1 million LGB adults used illicit opioids in the preceding 12 months (LGB adults: 9.8%; heterosexual adults: 4.24%). Prevalence of illicit opioid use was significantly higher among LGB women aged <50 and gay/bisexual men (18-25 and 50 +) compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Conclusions: Interventions targeting LGB illicit opioid use should account for possible differential minority stress associated with age and gender.

Health-related quality of life by human immunodeficiency virus status in a cross-sectional survey of gay and bisexual prostate cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer is the most common invasive cancer in gay and bisexual men (GBM). Despite the unique sexual and urinary concerns of this group, studies of prostate cancer rehabilitation have primarily focused on heterosexual men. GBM also have high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which may be associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined the association between HIV status and HRQOL in a cohort of GBM with prostate cancer. METHODS: Data from the Restore study, a cross-sectional online survey of GBM treated for prostate cancer, were used to examine this association. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) assessed function, bother, and summary measures in four domains: urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormone. Overall physical and mental HRQOL was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Multivariate analysis of variance and linear regression were used to evaluate the association between HIV status and HRQOL scores after adjustment for demographic and sexual characteristics. RESULTS: Of 192 participants, 24 (12.4%) reported an HIV diagnosis. After adjustment for covariates, HIV-positive status was associated with lower scores on the EPIC urinary (mean difference [MD]: -13.0, 95% CI, -21.4 to -4.6), sexual (MD: -12.5, 95% CI, -21.9 to -3.2), and bowel (MD: -5.9, 95% CI, -11.7 to -0.2) domains. No significant associations were observed between HIV status and other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: HIV status may be associated with poorer urinary, sexual, and bowel HRQOL in GBM prostate cancer survivors.

Suicide Risk for Sexual Minorities in Middle and Older Age: Evidence From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

OBJECTIVE: No studies have estimated the difference in suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts for lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50+ compared with heterosexuals using nationally representative data. METHODS: We used 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to estimate the prevalence of self-reported suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts for LGB adults 50+ compared with heterosexuals in the preceding 12 months. RESULTS: Over 185,000 LGB adults aged 50+ in the United States were estimated to have had suicidal ideation in the preceding year. After adjusting for sex and race/ethnicity, LGB individuals aged 50+ had a 4.5 percentage point higher prevalence of suicidal ideation compared with heterosexuals (prevalence difference [PD]: 0.045; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.022, 0.067). Of those with suicidal ideation, LGB individuals aged 50+ had a 17.2 percentage point higher prevalence of suicide plans compared with heterosexuals (PD: 0.172; 95% CI: 0.011, 0.332). CONCLUSION: LGB adults in middle and older age have higher suicidal ideation and plans than heterosexual peers.

Perceived Income Adequacy and Well-being Among Older Adults in Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

OBJECTIVES: Perceived income adequacy is positively associated with self-rated health (SRH) and quality of life (QOL) among adults in higher-income countries. Additionally, older individuals often report higher levels of income adequacy. However, it is unclear if these associations, documented primarily in high-income countries, are also evident across economically and culturally distinctive low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Data were drawn from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa. Smaller samples of younger adults (18-49 years) were included for comparison purposes. Participants reported income adequacy, SRH, and QOL. Associations between age and income adequacy and between income adequacy and SRH/QOL were examined using country-specific logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Older adults in China and Russia were more likely to report better income adequacy than their 18- to 49-year-old counterparts; however, the opposite was observed in Ghana and India. SRH and QOL improved as income adequacy increased in all countries. DISCUSSION: As expected, income adequacy was correlated with SRH and QOL. However, the relationship between age and income adequacy varied cross-culturally, potentially due to differences in familial and governmental financial support.

Effects of the 2009 USPSTF Depression Screening Recommendation on Diagnosing and Treating Mental Health Conditions in Older Adults: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental condition in U.S. older adults. To improve rates of underdiagnosis and undertreatment for depression and other mental health conditions in primary care settings, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updates and disseminates its depression screening guideline regularly. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of the 2009 USPSTF depression screening recommendation on the 3 following outcomes: diagnoses of mental health conditions, antidepressant prescriptions (overall and potentially inappropriate), and provision of nonpharmacological psychiatric services in office-based outpatient primary care visits made by adults aged 65 or older. METHODS: Data from the 2006-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationally representative sample of office-based outpatient primary care visits among older adults (n = 15,596 unweighted), were used. NAMCS represents physician practicing patterns of ambulatory medical care services utilization at the national level. Using a series of multivariate difference-in-differences analyses, we estimated effects of the USPSTF depression screening recommendation on the previously mentioned outcomes by comparing pre- (2006-2009) and post- (2010-2012) periods to describe primary care physician practice patterns. RESULTS: Differences in any mental health diagnosis by the depression screening status were -34.7% in the pre-2009 period and -20.2% in the post-2009 period, resulting in a differential effect of -14.4% (95% CI = -28.2, -0.6; P = 0.040). No differential effect was found in other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: While there are mixed findings about efficacy and effectiveness of depression screening in the existing literature, more population-based observational research is needed to strengthen and support current USPSTF depression screening recommendation statements in the United States. DISCLOSURES: Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (#T32AG019134). The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest. Publicly available data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Analyses, interpretation, and conclusions are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Division of Health Interview Statistics or NCHS of the CDC.

Social Support and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Gay and Bisexual Men With Prostate Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To describe social support patterns of gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer (GBMPCa) and how social support is associated with prostate cancer outcomes. SAMPLE & SETTING: A cross-sectional online survey with 186 GBMPCa recruited from a national cancer support group network. METHODS & VARIABLES: Descriptive statistics of social support and linear regression of social support on general and prostate cancer-specific quality of life (QOL). Social support and health-related QOL were assessed generally and specific to prostate cancer. RESULTS: Participants primarily relied on partners or husbands, gay and bisexual friends, chosen family, and men from support groups for support. The most common types of support received were informational and emotional social support. Low general social support was significantly associated with worse prostate cancer symptom bother and general mental QOL. Wanting more social support was significantly associated with worse prostate cancer-specific and general QOL. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Clinicians should be aware of the different social support networks and needs of GBMPCa and refer them to relevant support groups to improve QOL.

What Gay and Bisexual Men Treated for Prostate Cancer Want in a Sexual Rehabilitation Program: Results of the Restore Needs Assessment.

Introduction: While erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are well-documented effects of prostate cancer treatment, the impact of sexual concerns on the lives of gay and bisexual men treated for prostate cancer has not been well researched. Specifically there are no known studies investigating what gay and bisexual men want in sexual recovery treatment. Methods: To conduct this needs assessment, we recruited 193 gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer from the largest online cancer support group in North America. As part of a wider study of sexual functioning, participants completed a 32-item needs assessment and a qualitative question assessing their needs. Results: There was high interest in a sexual recovery program across race/ethnicity and by treatment type. The most preferred formats were a self-directed online curriculum and participation in a support group specific to gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer. A variety of formats, language and contents were deemed appropriate and important by most participants. Frank explicit language and content were preferred. Three themes emerged in the qualitative analysis. Conclusions: Gay and bisexual men treated for prostate cancer want a recovery curriculum that explicitly addresses the sexual challenges they face before, during and after treatment. While differences were identified across race and treatment type, they were relatively few and minor in magnitude, suggesting that a single online curriculum could advance rehabilitation for this population.

What Gay and Bisexual Men Treated for Prostate Cancer Are Offered and Attempt as Sexual Rehabilitation for Prostate Cancer: Results from the Restore Study.

Introduction: This is the first known study to investigate what gay and bisexual men are offered and what they try as rehabilitation to address the sexual and urinary effects of prostate cancer treatment. Methods: A total of 193 gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer were recruited from a large male cancer survivor support and advocacy website. Online participants completed survey questions asking what rehabilitation treatments were offered, what they tried and what their satisfaction was with outcomes. Results: Most participants (68.4%) reported being out as gay/bisexual to at least 1 cancer specialist. Only 8.8% reported that a sexual history was taken. The most common problems reported were loss of ejaculate (93.8%), erectile difficulties (89.6%), change in sense of orgasm (87.0%), loss of sexual confidence (76.7%), changes to the penis (65.8%), increased pain in receptive anal sex (64.8%), urinary incontinence not related to sex (64.2%) and urinary incontinence during sex (49.2%). Of these factors only loss of ejaculate, erectile difficulties and nonsexual urinary problems were commonly discussed by clinicians during prostate cancer treatment. Satisfaction with specific rehabilitation options varied widely. Conclusions: Treatment for prostate cancer lacks adequate history taking and consensus around rehabilitation practices, resulting in idiosyncratic approaches to rehabilitation. Four clinical questions may improve outcomes. Prostate cancer specialists need education to become culturally competent in addressing the unique needs of gay and bisexual patients.

Mental health and well-being among type 1 diabetes caregivers in India: Evidence from the IDREAM study.

AIMS: Although more than half of the world's children with T1D live in developing countries, still little is known about how caregiving for children with T1D affects the parent/caregivers' health in low- and middle-income country settings. METHODS: Caregivers of 178 children with T1D from a specialized diabetes clinic in Maharashtra, India were surveyed. Ordered and standard logistic regression models adjusted for caregiver, household and child characteristics, were fit to estimate the association of caregiving burden (objective caregiving burden and subjective caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Inventory - tertiles)) with caregiver depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) and well-being (CDC Unhealthy Days) outcomes. RESULTS: Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden had a 41% probability of most severe depression category (probability: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.57) and an 39% probability of low well-being (probability: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.51), compared to caregivers with low subjective burden. Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden and high objective direct caregiving burden had an adjusted 30% probability of elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ≥10). CONCLUSIONS: Among Indian T1D caregivers, high subjective caregiving burden and objective direct caregiving burden were associated with a high risk for caregiver depression and poorer well-being.

Physical activity, but not body mass index, predicts less disability before and after stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether physical activity and body mass index (BMI) predict instrumental or basic activities of daily living (I/ADL) trajectories before or after stroke compared to individuals who remained stroke-free. METHODS: Using a prospective cohort, the Health and Retirement Study, we followed adults without a history of stroke in 1998 (n = 18,117) for up to 14 years. We estimated linear regression models of I/ADL trajectories comparing individuals who remained stroke-free throughout follow-up (n = 16,264), those who survived stroke (n = 1,374), and those who died after stroke and before the next interview wave (n = 479). We evaluated whether I/ADL trajectories differed by physical activity or BMI at baseline (before stroke), adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic covariates. RESULTS: Compared to those who were physically active, stroke survivors who were physically inactive at baseline had a lower probability of independence in ADLs and IADLs 3 years after stroke (risk difference = -0.18 and -0.16 for ADLs and IADLs, respectively). However, a similar difference in the probability of independence was also present 3 years before stroke, and we observed no evidence that physical activity slowed the rate of decline in independence before or after stroke. Unlike the results for physical activity, we did not observe a consistent pattern for the probability of independence in ADLs or IADLs comparing obese stroke survivors to normal-weight or to overweight stroke survivors 3 years before stroke or 3 years after stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Physical inactivity predicts a higher risk of being dependent both before and after stroke.

Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in 6 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Findings From Wave 1 of the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE).

In this paper, we examine patterns of self-reported diagnosis of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and prevalences of algorithm/measured test-based, undiagnosed, and untreated NCDs in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. Nationally representative samples of older adults aged ≥50 years were analyzed from wave 1 of the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (2007-2010; n = 34,149). Analyses focused on 6 conditions: angina, arthritis, asthma, chronic lung disease, depression, and hypertension. Outcomes for these NCDs were: 1) self-reported disease, 2) algorithm/measured test-based disease, 3) undiagnosed disease, and 4) untreated disease. Algorithm/measured test-based prevalence of NCDs was much higher than self-reported prevalence in all 6 countries, indicating underestimation of NCD prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. Undiagnosed prevalence of NCDs was highest for hypertension, ranging from 19.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 18.1, 21.3) in India to 49.6% (95% CI: 46.2, 53.0) in South Africa. The proportion untreated among all diseases was highest for depression, ranging from 69.5% (95% CI: 57.1, 81.9) in South Africa to 93.2% (95% CI: 90.1, 95.7) in India. Higher levels of education and wealth significantly reduced the odds of an undiagnosed condition and untreated morbidity. A high prevalence of undiagnosed NCDs and an even higher proportion of untreated NCDs highlights the inadequacies in diagnosis and management of NCDs in local health-care systems.

Effects of depression screening on diagnosing and treating mood disorders among older adults in office-based primary care outpatient settings: An instrumental variable analysis.

Existing literature shows mixed findings regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of depression screening, and relatively little is known about the effectiveness of depression screening among older adults in primary care visits in the U.S. This study examines the effects of depression screening on the three following outcomes: mood disorder diagnoses, overall antidepressant prescriptions, and potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions among older adults ages 65 or older in office-based outpatient primary care settings. We used data from 2010-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationally representative sample of office-based primary care outpatient visits among older adults (n=9,313 unweighted). We employed an instrumental variable approach to control for selection bias in our repeated cross-sectional population-based study. Injury prevention and stress management were selected as instrumental variables, as they were considered completely exogenous to outcomes of interests using conceptual and statistical criteria. We conducted multivariate bivariate probit (biprobit) regression analyses to investigate the effect of depression screening on each outcome, when controlled for other covariates. We found that depression screening was negatively associated with potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions (ß=-2.17; 95% CI -2.80 to -1.53; p<0.001). However, no significant effect of depression screening on diagnosis of mood disorders and overall antidepressant prescriptions was found. Overall, depression screening had a negative effect on potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions. Primary care physicians and other healthcare providers should actively utilize depression screening to minimize potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions in older adult patients.

Operationalizing Frailty in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study Cohort.

Background: Factors that may contribute to the development of frailty in late life have not been widely investigated. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort presents an opportunity to examine relationships of midlife risk factors with frailty in late life. However, we first present findings on the validation of an established frailty phenotype in this predominantly biracial population of older adults. Methods: Among 6,080 participants, we defined frailty based upon the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) criteria incorporating measures of weight loss, exhaustion, slow walking speed, low physical activity, and low grip strength. Criterion and predictive validity of the frailty phenotype were estimated from associations between frailty status and participants' physical and mental health status, physiologic markers, and incident clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 393 (6.5%) participants were classified as frail and 50.4% pre-frail, similar to CHS (6.9% frail, 46.6% pre-frail). In age-adjusted analyses, frailty was concurrently associated with depressive symptoms, low self-rated health, low medication adherence, and clinical biomarker levels (ie, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin). During 1-year follow-up, frailty was associated with falls, low physical ability, fatigue, and mortality. Conclusions: These findings support the validity of the CHS frailty phenotype in the ARIC Study cohort. Future studies in ARIC may elucidate early-life exposures that contribute to late-life frailty.

Caregiving and social support for gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, typically onsets in middle or older age. Gay/bisexual men have different social networks and unique social support needs, particularly as it pertains to health care access and prostate side effects. Few studies have investigated the availability and provision of social support for gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer (GBMPCa). METHODS: This study used qualitative data from in-depth, semistructured, one-on-one telephone interviews with 30 GBMPCa recruited from a national cancer support group network, Malecare. Inductive and deductive codes were used to identify themes about social support provided to GBMPCa during diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: GBMPCa reported help from friends, family (parents and siblings), ex-partners, and paid caregivers. Men in relationships reported varying levels of reliance on their partners for support, in part due to relationship dynamics and living arrangements. Single men showed a theme of independence ("I turned down all help," "My friends don't want to be bothered"). After diagnosis, many men reported seeking informational and emotional support from prostate cancer support groups; most expressed wanting more support groups specifically for GBMPCa. During or after treatment, men reported receiving a range of instrumental support, largely a function of relationship status and treatment type. CONCLUSIONS: GBMPCa received variable, but generally low, social support during diagnosis and treatment and from a diverse social network, including a prominence of friends and family. Clinicians should be aware of GBMPCa's distinct patterns of social support needs and providers.

Historical Differences in School Term Length and Measured Blood Pressure: Contributions to Persistent Racial Disparities among US-Born Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Legally mandated segregation policies dictated significant differences in the educational experiences of black and white Americans through the first half of the 20th century, with markedly lower quality in schools attended by black children. We determined whether school term length, a common marker of school quality, was associated with blood pressure and hypertension among a cohort of older Americans who attended school during the de jure segregation era. METHODS: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I and II data were linked to state level historical information on school term length. We used race and gender-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, state and year of birth to estimate effects of term length on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and hypertension for US-born adults. We also tested whether correcting years of schooling for term length differences attenuated estimated racial disparities. RESULTS: Among black women, 10% longer school term was associated with lower SBP, DBP and hypertension prevalence (2.1 mmHg, 1.0 mmHg, and 5.0 percentage points respectively). Associations for whites and for black men were not statistically significant. Adjustment for education incorporating corrections for differences in school term length slightly attenuated estimated racial disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Longer school term length predicted better BP outcomes among black women, but not black men or whites.

Changes in Depressive Symptoms and Incidence of First Stroke Among Middle-Aged and Older US Adults.

BACKGROUND: Although research has demonstrated that depressive symptoms predict stroke incidence, depressive symptoms are dynamic. It is unclear whether stroke risk persists if depressive symptoms remit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Health and Retirement Study participants (n=16 178, stroke free and noninstitutionalized at baseline) were interviewed biennially from 1998 to 2010. Stroke and depressive symptoms were assessed through self-report of doctors' diagnoses and a modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression scale (high was ≥3 symptoms), respectively. We examined whether depressive symptom patterns, characterized across 2 successive interviews (stable low/no, onset, remitted, or stable high depressive symptoms) predicted incident stroke (1192 events) during the subsequent 2 years. We used marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographics, health behaviors, chronic conditions, and attrition. We also estimated effects stratified by age (≥65 years), race or ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic), and sex. Stroke hazard was elevated among participants with stable high (adjusted hazard ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.71) or remitted (adjusted hazard ratio 1.66, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.26) depressive symptoms compared with participants with stable low/no depressive symptoms. Stable high depressive symptom predicted stroke among all subgroups. Remitted depressive symptoms predicted increased stroke hazard among women (adjusted hazard ratio 1.86, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.66) and non-Hispanic white participants (adjusted hazard ratio 1.66, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.33) and was marginally associated among Hispanics (adjusted hazard ratio 2.36, 95% CI 0.98 to 5.67). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, persistently high depressive symptoms were associated with increased stroke risk. Risk remained elevated even if depressive symptoms remitted over a 2-year period, suggesting cumulative etiologic mechanisms linking depression and stroke.