Tip 6670 · Wellbeing Compass · Friday 25 September 2026
WC230: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Mental Health
Wellbeing Compass Topic #230 shipped. Source: Mobeen et al. 2021 (COPD journal, PMID 34676796), a national registry study of 746 AATD patients found depression/anxiety diagnosed in 16.4% — and those affected showed significantly faster lung function decline (−1.53%/yr vs −0.99%/yr, p=0.03).
AATD is a genetic condition that can cause serious lung and liver disease; the mental-health comorbidity finding strengthens the case for integrated screening. Live in 12 languages on the Compass site. Continues the WC199–229 run (WC229 Wilson Disease completed earlier today).
Why it matters
- Rare-disease mental health is chronically under-measured; registry evidence at N=746 is substantial.
- Faster FEV1 decline when depression/anxiety present — clinical signal, not just quality-of-life.
- Process desk — standing stays two hundred eighty-three locked. WC ladder now 230/230+.