<![CDATA[Depression is a mental health problem that frequently affects older adults with chronic illnesses and impacts various aspects of health. This scoping review aims to map the latest scientific evidence regarding the impact of depression in older adults with various chronic illnesses. A search was conducted through the PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, and EBSCO databases for English-language articles published between 2019 and 2025. A total of 17 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed descriptively. The results indicate that depression is closely associated with the worsening course of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, tuberculosis, chronic kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurological disorders. The findings indicate that depression is associated with adverse outcomes across various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, tuberculosis, chronic kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurological conditions. Depression was associated with poorer treatment adherence, reduced physical and cognitive functioning, decreased quality of life, worsening disease outcomes, and an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality, especially among older adults with multimorbidity or cognitive impairment. Low social support and limitations in daily activities were identified as factors that amplify the impact of depression. These findings suggest that depression should be prioritized in the management of chronic diseases in older adults through early screening, psychological interventions, and the integration of mental health services into comorbidity care]]>
