Depression is linked to an increased risk of developing kidney failure in the future, according to a new study.

Lead investigator, Dr. Willem Kop (Department of Medical Psychology and Neuropsychology at the University of Tilburg, the Netherlands) and colleagues studied 5,785 people from four counties across the United States for 10 years. The participants were 65 years and older and not yet on dialysis.

They completed a questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms and a broad range of medical measurements, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and risk factors for kidney and heart diseases.

The investigators examined whether depression predicted the onset of kidney disease or other medical problems in which the kidneys play a critical role.