Prevalence and correlates of clinically significant depressive symptoms among elderly people in Sri Lanka: findings from a national survey

ABSTRACTBackground: Elderly Sri Lankans (11.2% of the nation's population) have witnessed many years of ethnic conflict, a destructive tsunami and increasing emigration of young adults. However, very little is known about the prevalence and correlates of depression among them. The present study utilizes data from a national aging survey to document the prevalence and correlates of clinically significant depressive symptoms among community-dwelling elderly Sri Lankans (aged ≥60 years).Methods: The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was administered to 1181 elderly Sri Lankans; the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was defined as a GDS-15 score of ≥6. Sociodemographic and health correlates of depressive symptoms were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Interactions between gender and other correlates were also assessed.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed to be 27.8% overall: 24.0% for men, and 30.8% for women. Certain subgroups of the elderly, i.e. those with disabilities, functional limitations, perceived income inadequacy, minorities, and elderly living alone, were significantly more likely to report depressive symptoms. There was a significant interaction between gender and ethnicity.Conclusion: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Sri Lankan elderly people is higher than that reported for most Asian countries. Clinicians and caregivers need to be aware of the potential presence of depressive symptoms among the elderly, especially among those with lower educational levels, functional limitations, hearing difficulty, physical disability, perceived income inadequacy, and among those who live alone, and ethnic minority males.

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Association between depressive symptoms and dental care-seeking behavior among elderly Brazilian people

Revista de Odontologia da UNESP ◽

10.1590/1807-2577.22215 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 132-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriela Ádima de Camargo ÁVILA ◽

Aline Blaya MARTINS ◽

Otávio Pereira D'AVILA ◽

Matheus NEVES ◽

Juliana Balbinot HILGERT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Elderly People ◽

Dental Care ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Care Seeking ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Care Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among the elderly population (10%). These symptoms frequently appear when there is a loss of quality of life associated with social exclusion and the appearance of severe diseases. Feelings of sadness, discouragement, despondency and deception, and events such as the loss of close friends and family can also be related to these symptoms. The consequences of depressive symptoms include negative oral health outcomes, such as a decrease in the frequency of toothbrushing, greater prevalence of caries and higher probability of the appearance of periodontitis. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the association between the presence of depressive symptoms and problem-oriented oral healthcare behavior, as well as the absence of healthcare-seeking behavior. Material and method 872 elderly people living in two health districts in Porto Alegre were evaluated. They provided information on socioeconomic variables at an interview, and responded to the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 and to a questionnaire assessing dental care-seeking behavior. In addition, an oral examination was performed. When analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance, the variables of male sex, less schooling, lower income, reduced number of teeth, presence of root remnants and presence of depressive symptoms were found to be independently associated with the outcome. Result There was a significant difference regarding dental care-seeking behavior in relation to elderly people presenting depressive symptoms and those in low socioeconomic strata having poor oral status. Conclusion It was concluded that these factors need to be taken into consideration when evaluating dental care-seeking behavior.

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Sport and Recreational Physical Activities Attenuate the Predictive Association of Multimorbidity With Increased Geriatric Depressive Symptoms: A 14-Year Follow-Up Study of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2021-0070 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Yonglin Liang ◽

Francisco T.T. Lai ◽

Joyce L.Y. Kwan ◽

Wai Chan ◽

Eng-Kiong Yeoh

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Adjusted Relative Risk ◽

Recreational Activities ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Multimorbidity is associated with increased depression risks. Little research examines how physical exercise moderates this association. From an existing cohort of community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong recruited in 2001–2003, the authors included participants who were successfully interviewed after 14 years (2015–2017). Geriatric depressive symptoms were used as the primary outcome and measured by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, while multimorbidity was operationalized using a list of 19 conditions. Subscores of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly measuring light, moderate, and strenuous sport/recreational activities were included as moderators. In total, 1,056 participants were included, of whom 50.7% were multimorbid. Multimorbidity was associated with 12% more geriatric depressive symptoms, but strenuous physical activities were associated with a smaller risk elevation only among multimorbid patients (adjusted relative risk = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [0.98, 0.99]; p = .001). In conclusion, strenuous sport and recreational activities may attenuate the association between multimorbidity and geriatric depressive symptoms.

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Cognitive Impairment, Depression, and Cooccurrence of Both among the Elderly in Panama: Differential Associations with Multimorbidity and Functional Limitations

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/718701 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alcibiades E. Villarreal ◽

Shantal Grajales ◽

Lineth Lopez ◽

Gabrielle B. Britton ◽

Panama Aging Research Initiative

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Multinomial Regression

Cognitive impairment and depression are common mental health problems among the elderly, although few studies have examined their cooccurrence in older adults in Latin America. The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive impairment, depression, and cooccurrence of the two conditions and associated factors in a sample of older adults in Panama. This study included 304 community-dwelling elderly (≥65 years) individuals. Participants underwent a clinical interview and assessments of cognitive function by the Minimental State Examination and depressive symptoms by the Geriatric Depression Scale. Limitations in basic (BADL) and instrumental (IADL) activities in daily living and the presence of chronic illnesses were recorded. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that cooccurrence of cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms was explained by increasing age (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.20, 8.30), low education (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.33, 8.38), having four or more chronic conditions (OR: 11.5, 95% CI: 2.84, 46.63), and BADL limitations (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 1.26, 19.68). Less education and limitations in BADL and IADL increased the odds of cognitive impairment alone, while less education and three or more chronic conditions increased the odds of depression alone. These findings underscore the relevance of assessing cognitive impairment in the elderly as part of a long-term approach to managing depression and vice versa.

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Active aging is associated with low prevalence of depressive symptoms among Brazilian older adults

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia ◽

10.1590/1980-5497201600020008 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 307-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rosangela Galli ◽

Emílio Hideyuki Moriguchi ◽

Neide Maria Bruscato ◽

Rogerio Lessa Horta ◽

Marcos Pascoal Pattussi

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Elderly People ◽

White Women ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Active Aging ◽

Lower Prevalence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Manual Work

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security, aiming to improve quality of life as people age. A series of studies had demonstrated that a lower prevalence of depression is found among more active elderly. Objective: To evaluate the association between indicators of active aging and depressive symptoms among the elderly (aged 60 years or more). Method: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,006 elderly people (aged 60 years or over) from a small-sized Brazilian municipality. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15, with cutoff point ≥ 6 symptoms. Active aging was evaluated using indicators such as: active occupational situation, manual work, reading and physical activities. Data analyses used modified Poisson regression to obtain crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). Results: Most of the elderly people were: white, women and aged between 60 and 74 years. All the indicators of active aging were associated with the outcome. After controlling for socioeconomic, demographic and health variables, elderly people who worked, participated in groups, did manual work and maintained interests such as reading and talking to friends had lower prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to those not doing these activities. Conclusions: Active aging approaches may serve as a valuable mental health promotion strategy aimed at the elderly.

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Sarcopenia and Coronary Heart Disease Synergistically Increase the Risk of New Onset Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

10.21203/rs.3.rs-112175/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoyu Chen ◽

Peipei Han ◽

Xing Yu ◽

Yuanyuan Zhang ◽

Peiyu Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

New Onset

Abstract Background: It is well known that psychological and physical are very common among the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the additive effects of coronary heart disease (CHD) and sarcopenia on the risk of new onset depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods: The prospective cohort study comprised 897 Chinese community-dwelling participants who were aged 60 years and older (386 men; mean age 66.9±5.9 years) without depressive symptoms at baseline, recruited from Chadian of Tianjin, China. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. CHD was identified via medical records or new diagnosed by at least two physicians. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) ≥11. Longitudinal data on new onset depressive symptoms were collected up to 12 months after baseline.Results: We found that 103 (11.5%) of the 897 participants without depressive symptoms at baseline had developed depressive symptoms. Participants were classified into mutually exclusive groups based on sarcopenia status and CHD: normal, CHD alone, sarcopenia alone, and co-occurring groups. A logistic regression showed that the CHD alone [odd ratios (OR) = 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-3.07]], sarcopenia alone (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.24-6.16), and co-occurring (OR = 7.12, 95% CI = 2.73-18.61) had higher risk of depressive symptoms than the normal group after adjusting for the covariates.Conclusions: CHD and sarcopenia synergistically increase the risk of new onset depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, older adults may require early detection, and appropriate interventions should be implemented.

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Factors associated with depressive symptoms and cognition in elderly victims of violence

Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0383 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (suppl 3) ◽

Author(s):

Rafael da Costa Santos ◽

Rafaella Queiroga Souto ◽

Ana Maria de Almeida ◽

Gleicy Karine Nascimento de Araújo ◽

Rute Costa Régis de Sousa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Elderly People ◽

Minimum Wage ◽

Cognitive Deficit ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Victims Of Violence

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify, among elderly people victims of violence, factors associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive function. Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 56 elderly people classified in situation of violence. To do so it was used the Brazil Old Age Shedule (BOAS), the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Mini-mental State examination (MMSE). Results: Depressive symptoms were more predominant in elderly men, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, with no job, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone; and the cognitive deficit prevailed in women, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, who did not work, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone. Conclusion: Among the elderly population victim of violence, lack of a partner and cognitive impairment were associated to depressive symptoms; and finding themselves living alone, with no partner and being illiterate were associated to cognitive deficit.

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Applicability of a cognitive questionnaire in the elderly and proxy

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/s1980-57642009dn20300012 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 228-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Renata Areza Fegyveres ◽

Ana Paula Formigoni ◽

Cláudia Sellitto Porto ◽

Maria Teresa Carthery Goulart ◽

Mirna Lie Hosogi Senaha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Geriatric Depression ◽

Community Group ◽

Proxy Report ◽

Proxy Responses ◽

The Mean ◽

State Examination

Abstract The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly with the Proxy (IQCODE) was developed as a screening tool for cognition alterations. Objectives: 1) To verify the applicability of IQCODE in the elderly with limited schooling, 2) To verify the reliability of the responses supplied by the aged and their proxies. Methods: Individuals of a Community Group were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), IQCODE and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The IQCODE was applied to informants and proxies. Results: We analyzed 44 individuals, aged between 58-82 years (M=66.8, SD=5.97) with mean elderly-schooling level of 3.75, SD=2.82 and 44 proxies aged 44.5 (SD=13.3), with mean schooling level of 8.25 (SD=4.3). The mean GDS was 8.22, SD=4.90 and 13 participants presented a score suggestive of depressive symptoms. The mean elderly IQCODE score was 3.26, SD=0.69 and 3.21, SD=0.65, for proxy responses. There was no statistical difference between these means. On the MMSE, the mean score was 24.20, SD=4.14 and 18 participants presented scores below the cut-off. The IQCODE answers by the elderly in this latter group were more congruent with MMSE than the answers of proxies. Conclusions: The applicability of the IQCODE in a population with little schooling was verified in that the proxy-report was similar to the elderly report. We can affirm that the elderly answers were more accurate than the proxies, as they were closer to MMSE score. The inclusion of a greater number of participants from community-dwelling settings is necessary to confirm the results obtained in this study.

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Physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders from southern Brazil

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1590/s1516-44462011005000006 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 165-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

César L. Reichert ◽

César L. Diogo ◽

José L. Vieira ◽

Roberta R. Dalacorte

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Linear Trend ◽

Geriatric Depression Scale ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Population Based ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Active Group ◽

Lower Prevalence ◽

Cross Sectional

OBJECTIVE: To determine the existence of a relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study, which included 379 community-dwelling elders from Novo Hamburgo, state of RS, Brazil. The level of physical activity was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and depressive symptoms were diagnosed according to the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. The association between the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms was analyzed by logistic regression. RESULTS: A tendency towards a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in individuals with higher levels of physical activity, both in the sample as a whole as well as among men, but not among women (p for linear trend 0.04, 0.03 and 0.36, respectively). The odds ratio of the presence of depressive symptoms in the very active group, as compared against that of the insufficiently active group was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.12-0.86) for men and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.39-1.46) for women. CONCLUSION: In this population of aged individuals, more intense physical activity is related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. As shown by gender stratification, physical activity is inversely related to depressive symptoms in men, albeit not in women.

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The STAI-Y trait scale: psychometric properties and normative data from a large population-based study of elderly people

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610212000300 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (7) ◽

pp. 1163-1171 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Valérie Bergua ◽

Céline Meillon ◽

Olivier Potvin ◽

Jean Bouisson ◽

Mélanie Le Goff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Elderly People ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Normative Data ◽

Large Population ◽

Female Gender ◽

The Elderly ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Research Context

ABSTRACTBackground:Whereas the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) is probably the most widely used self-reported measure of anxiety, the lack of current norms among elderly people appears to be problematic in both a clinical and research context. The objective of the present study was to provide normative data for the STAI-Y trait scale from a large elderly cohort and to identify the main sociodemographic and health-related determinants of trait anxiety.Methods:The STAI-Y trait scale was completed by 7,538 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and over from the “Three City” epidemiological study. Trained nurses and psychologists collected information during a face-to-face interview including sociodemographic characteristics and clinical variables.Results:The scale was found to have good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.89). Norms were stratified for gender and educational level differentiating persons with and without depressive symptoms. Multivariate linear regression found the STAI-Y trait score to be significantly associated with female gender, psychotropic medication use, higher depressive symptoms, higher cognitive complaints, and with an interaction between subjective health and marital status. Age was not associated with the total score.Conclusion:This study provides norms for the STAI-Y trait scale in the general elderly population which are of potential use in both a clinical and research context. The present results confirm the importance of several factors previously associated with higher trait anxiety in the elderly. However, more research is needed to better understand the clinical specificities of anxiety in the elderly and the improvement of assessment.

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Depressive symptoms in community-dwelling persons aged ≥60 years in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v21i1.576 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jayalakshmi Narainsamy ◽

Jennifer Chipps ◽

Bilkish Cassim

Keyword(s):

Logistic Regression ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Depression Scale ◽

The Elderly ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Household Size ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Primary Study

Background. Physical and psychological ailments increase with age; while the physical ailments are well documented, mental health issues have received less attention. Objective. To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in individuals aged ≥60 years living in a low-resource peri-urban area in South Africa. Methods. Secondary analysis was performed on data obtained from a primary study conducted to determine the influence of socioeconomic and environmental factors on the health status and quality of life in older persons living in the Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu (INK) area. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D 10) was used to screen for depressive symptoms in the week preceding the interview, and respondents were categorised as having no (score <10), mild (10 - 14), or severe (>14) depressive symptoms. Risk factor associations were tested using Pearson’s χ2 tests and logistic regression. Results. There were 1 008 respondents (mean (standard deviation) age 68.9 (7.4) years), of whom 503 (49.1%) did not meet criteria for depressive symptoms. Of the 505 (50.1%) respondents who met the CES-D 10 criteria for depressive symptoms, 422 (41.9%) had mild and 83 (8.2%) had severe depressive symptoms. In the univariate analysis, significant associations were found with age (p=0.011), household size (p=0.007), income (p=0.033), disability (p=0.001), nutritional status (p≤0.001), the inability to count on family (p=0.008) and lack of mastery (p≤0.001). In direct binary logistic regression, there were significant associations with lack of mastery (p≤0.001), inability to count on family (p=0.027), malnutrition (p≤0.001) and household size (p=0.024).Conclusion. This study highlights the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly in the INK area, and the need to promote successful ageing of the elderly population in this area.

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