Individual and Joint Associations of Cancer Diagnosis and Handgrip Strength with Depression in European Middle-Aged and Older Adults

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Depression is influenced by a multitude of interconnected factors, including cancer and handgrip strength. The purpose of our study is to examine how handgrip strength and cancer diagnosis are individually and jointly associated with depression. <b>Methods:</b> An observational study was employed using secondary data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe waves 7 and 8. The sample comprised 7 641 participants (71.1 ± 7.7 years), from 12 European countries. <b>Results:</b> Having a cancer diagnosis was associated with greater odds of depression (depression 2017 model: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.75; depression 2019 model: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.95). Being in a higher handgrip tertile was associated with lower odds of depression (depression 2017 model: tertile 2, OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.56, 0.74 and tertile 3, OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.65; depression 2019 model: tertile 2, OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.64, 0.86 and tertile 3, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.65, 0.88). The greatest reduction in odds for depression was found for participants without cancer and in the third handgrip strength tertile (depression 2017: OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.61; depression 2019: OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.58). <b>Conclusions:</b> Both cancer and handgrip strength were associated with depression, with the first increasing its risk and the latter reducing it. Individuals without cancer and in the highest tertile of handgrip strength have lower odds of depression in both analyses.