Association of sugary drinks intake with chronic diseases in people with depression —a national cross-sectional analysis in a Chinese population

Background: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate the association between a moderate intake of sugary drinks and the prevalence of chronic diseases in middle-aged and young Chinese adults with depression. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, and 4 municipalities directly under the central government in China from June 20 to August 31, 2022. Effect estimates, including odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (Cis), were used to assess the strength of independent variables and chronic disease prevalence. Results: A total of 24614 participants were included in this cross-sectional study. Univariate analysis showed that the prevalence of chronic diseases gradually increased with age (p < 0.001). People under the age of 48 with depressive symptoms had a significantly higher risk of developing chronic diseases (p < 0.05). Moderate consumption of sugary drinks (≤ 900ml/week) was correlated with the occurrence of chronic diseases with a reduced risk for about 5% compared to those consume hardly any sugary drinks or excessive amount of sugary drinks (≥ 900ml/week) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We observed that a moderate consumption of sugary drinks was correlated with a lower prevalence of chronic diseases in middle-aged and young adults with depression in Chinese populations, promoting a well-informed recommendation of sugary drinks intake for public well-beings, especially the middle-aged and young adults. Trial registration This study has been registered with the China Clinical Trials Registry, registration number ChiCTR2200061046.