Figure 2. Adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs) for the Association Between Depression and Dementia by Sex, Age, and Time Elapsed From the Index Date, 1980 to 2018.

We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to estimate the association between depression and dementia. We adjusted for variables regarded as common causes of depression and dementia based on current knowledge that were measured at baseline: education, income, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, anxiety disorders, stress disorders, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. Missingness categories were included for the education and income covariates.