The COPD-AD China Registry study is a nationwide registration study in China that has a comprehensive database that tracks patients with COPD who also suffer from anxiety or depression. Its goal is to screen for anxiety and depression among patients with COPD at an early stage, and track how these conditions impact the overall progression and prognosis of COPD. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated a sample of 1064 patients with COPD to evaluate the independent and combined effects of education level and living environment on their mental health.
Our results showed that the incidences of anxiety and depression were associated with education and living environment. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, binary logistic regression analyses showed that a lower education level and an urban living environment were independently associated with higher risks for anxiety and depression among patients with COPD. This suggested that lower education level and urban living environment were stable factors predicting the risk for anxiety and depression among patients with COPD. Education is a comprehensive reflection of a person’s knowledge, skills, and values, and has a profound impact on that individual’s cognition, behavior, and emotions [18, 19]. Patients with COPD with a lower education level may lack relevant health knowledge, lack understanding and confidence about their disease and treatment methods, and feel helpless and fearful. They may also be more dependent on the advice of doctors and lack the ability and willingness to self-manage than patients with a higher education level [20–23]. In addition, they may face social barriers and discrimination and feel lonely and lost. These factors may lead to them being more susceptible to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Living environment refers to the conditions in which a person lives, and includes social, economic, and cultural aspects. An urban living environment has previously been considered an important factor affecting mental health [24]. Urban living environments have serious air pollution that impacts patients with COPD. Exhaust from cars, industrial waste gases, and dust from construction sites and other sources of pollution are constantly emitted into the atmosphere, causing concentrations of harmful substances such as PM2.5 in the air [25, 26]. The respiratory system of patients with COPD has been damaged, and air pollution can therefore aggravate respiratory difficulties and symptoms [27]. Moreover, there is serious noise pollution in urban living environments [28]. Traffic, industrial, and community noise sources continuously interfere with the lives of patients with COPD. These noises may reduce the quality of patients’ sleep and affect their emotional and mental state [29, 30]. Finally, there may also be social problems in urban living environments such as tense interpersonal relationships [31]. The pace of urban life is fast, and interpersonal relationships are complex and many patients with COPD may feel lonely. All of these factors may cause patients to feel lost and helpless, further exacerbating their anxiety and depression. Therefore, we believed that a low education level and an urban living environment may increase the risks for anxiety and depression in patients with COPD.
We also examined the combined effect of a low education level and an urban living environment on the risks for anxiety and depression in patients with COPD. Our findings indicated that the combination of these two factors was statistically significant and exhibited a positive interactive effect. Specifically, the risk for anxiety or depression in patients with COPD was higher when they had a low education level and lived in urban areas, with this interactive effect being greater than the sum of their individual effects (11.57 times for anxiety and 31.31 times for depression). There are several possible explanations for the synergistic interaction between a low education level and an urban living environment in terms of anxiety and depression. First, these risk factors are associated with increased stress. Living in an urban area can be stressful because of noise pollution, traffic congestion, and overcrowding. In addition, a low education level may be associated with lower socioeconomic status, which can lead to stress related to financial difficulties and inadequate access to healthcare [32–34]. Second, a low education level and an urban living environment may impact patient’s social support network and social activities. A low education level may limit individuals’ access to resources and opportunities, which in turn may impact their social support networks and social activities. In addition, the fast-paced, busy lifestyle of an urban living environment often leaves people without sufficient time and opportunities to connect with others and participate in social activities [35, 36]. Third, a low education level may lead to a lack of necessary health knowledge and behaviors when facing health problems, resulting in a deterioration of health conditions. This situation can leave patients feeling frustrated and helpless, and in combination with the fast-paced, high-pressure, and competitive urban living environment, may also make individuals feel lonely, anxious, and even more helpless, meaning they feel unable to cope with the challenges of their illness and life [37, 38]. Therefore, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to consider multiple risk factors when assessing risks for anxiety and depression among patients with COPD, especially those with low education levels that live in urban areas. Health policymakers should develop targeted interventions to reduce the risk for anxiety and depression in patients with COPD by increasing the greening rate in urban areas, strengthening governance of noise and pollution, providing regular health services and cultural activities, and offering economic and psychological support.
There were certain limitations in our study that should be noted. First, this study was conducted among patients from nine hospitals in China, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other settings. Second, this study used a cross-sectional design, which limited our ability to establish causal relationships between urban living environment, low education level, and anxiety and depression among patients with COPD. Longitudinal studies are needed to further explore these relationships. Finally, we did not assess other potential confounding variables, such as socioeconomic status and medication complexity, which may affect our results.
In conclusion, our study provides evidence that the mental health of patients with COPD is influenced by their education and living environment. Patients with low education levels that live in urban areas may experience more anxiety and depression than better educated, rural dwelling patients, which can be compounded by their interactive effects. It is crucial to consider educational and environmental factors for patients with COPD, offer them optimal medical care and social support, and help them manage psychological distress. These efforts can enhance their quality of life and treatment outcomes.