A 10-Year Retrospective Quantitative Analysis of The CDC Database: Examining the Prevalence of Depression in the Us Adult Urban Population

Abstract

Background: Depression remains a leading cause of disability worldwide and poses a significant public health challenge in urban environments, where social, economic, and environmental stressors may amplify mental health risks. Over the past decade, evolving demographic and societal changes—including the COVID-19 pandemic—may have contributed to shifts in depression prevalence among urban adults in the United States. Aim of the study: The current study sought to determine the sociodemographic factors influencing the observed differences and examine a ten-year trend in the prevalence of depression among US urban adults. Methods: The data used in this retrospective quantitative investigation was taken from the 2013–2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) database. With stratified analyses by age, gender, race/ethnicity, economic level, and geographic location, the prevalence of depression was evaluated yearly. Confounders were taken into account while evaluating depression predictors using multivariate linear regression. A significance level of p < 0.05 was established. Result: After reaching a peak of 19.5% in 2021, the general prevalence of depression among urban people increased from 10.5% in 2013 to 17.5% in 2023. The largest rise was seen among those between the ages of 18 and 25 (15% to 30%), women (13% to 20%), and people who were Black or African American (22%). The highest frequency was seen among those with low incomes (25%), while states with larger urban densities, such as California (20%) and New York (19%), had higher rates. Female gender (β = 0.3, p < 0.01), Black/African American ethnicity (β = 0.25, p < 0.05), poor income (β = 0.5, p < 0.001), high urban density (β = 0.2, p < 0.01), and younger age (β = 0.45, p < 0.001) were all found to be significant predictors of depression by multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Over the previous ten years, depression has been much more common among urban people in the US, with rises during the COVID-19 epidemic being especially notable. Depression rates are significantly influenced by sociodemographic variables, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and urban density. These results underline the necessity of focused public health programs and legislative changes to address the escalating urban mental health epidemic, especially among disadvantaged populations.