Anxiety and Depression in the Portuguese Older Adults: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Abstract

Anxiety and depression in the elderly individuals have been studied around the world, and some authors consider them among the most serious problems faced by modern societies. With recent economic crisis—very important in Southern European countries—isolation, loneliness, and exclusion of the active society, mental problems are probably raising and associated with distinct factors. In this cross-sectional analysis, nested in a longitudinal population-based cohort study, we analyze anxiety and depression prevalence, and their related factors, in a representative cohort of Portuguese seniors. We used data retrieved from second wave of follow-up of EpiDoC Cohort—EpiDoC 2 study, which is composed by 10,661 adults, representative of adult Portuguese population. This study included all ≥65 years old EpiDoC 2 study participants, who responded to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), n = 1,680. Sociodemographic, lifestyles, self-reported non-communicable diseases, health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3D), physical function (HAQ), and health resources consumption data were collected. Anxiety and depression were assessed with HADS. Anxiety and depression prevalence were estimated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess anxiety and depression score determinants. The estimated prevalence of anxiety among Portuguese elderly is 9.6% and depression is 11.8%. Seniors with anxiety and seniors with depression have a higher probability to self-report higher levels of physical disability (OR = 3.10; 96% CI 2.12–4.52; OR = 3.08, 95% CI 2.29–4.14, respectively) and lower levels of quality of life (OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.09; OR = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.06, respectively). Female gender (OR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.53–5.00), low educational level (OR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.22–4.36), allergic (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.14–3.55), and rheumatic disease (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.74–4.90) were significantly and independently associated with the presence of anxiety symptoms. Physical inactivity (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.11–2.42) and low educational level (OR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.41–4.09) were significantly and independently associated with depression symptoms. Subjects that reported to drink alcohol daily or occasionally were negatively associated with depression symptoms. Anxiety and depression are frequent among Portuguese elderly. These prevalence rates suggest that preventing mental illness in senior population is a crucial need. A well-designed prevention strategy might have an effective action in raising the well-being of elderly.

Prevalence of Depression in the Elderly Population of Manisa and Related Risk Factors

“…The frequency of depressive symptoms in previous studies was 18.5%-56.6% in community-based investigations, in Turkey (11,12,17,18). A community-based study conducted in South Africa using the GDS found depressive symptoms in 40% of the elderly (6). In contrary, depression prevalence in the elderly population is lower (range 9.0% -11.0%) in developed countries than underdeveloped countries (19,20).…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the most common mental disorder in older adults is depression, which affects approximately 7% of the world's elderly population, and clinically significant depressive symptoms have been reported in 15% of older adults (4). Depression prevalence rates differ among countries: a recent population-based study found that 41.8% of the elderly had depressive symptoms in Ethiopia (5), 40.0% in South Africa (6) and 42.7% in India (7). Globally, clinically significant depressive symptoms exist in one in every eight elderly individuals living in the community; however, the depression rate is higher in inpatient older adults and in those who reside in nursing homes (8,9).…”

“…Many factors play a role in the emergence of depression in the elderly, including female sex; low socioeconomic status; living alone; presence of chronic disease; physical, verbal and economical abuse and needing assistance in activities of daily living (ADL) (5)(6)(7)(10)(11)(12). Therefore, the early recognition of depressive symptoms and the determination of risk factors are important in the elderly.…”

Aktywność fizyczna a kondycja psychiczna osób starszych

“…Niektórzy badacze uważają nawet, że jest to jeden z najważniejszych problemów współczesnego społe-czeństwa (de Sousa et al, 2017).…”

“…Inne badania populacji polskiej pokazują, że ciężkie objawy depresji ujawnia 10,9% osób powyżej 65. roku życia (Kujawska-Danecka et al, 2016). Podobnie badania wykonane na populacji portugalskiej wykazały, że występowanie depresji i lęku jest powszechnym problemem osób starszych i dotyczy 9,6% populacji dla depresji i 11,8% dla lęku (de Sousa et al, 2017).…”