The association between medical diseases and late-life depression: The presence, number, and type of medical diseases

Abstract

Medical diseases are highly prevalent among older adults and lead to several changes in psychosocial life. One effect of those problems is seen on depression. On the other hand, whether the type or the number of medical diseases are associated with late-life depression have not examined in the literature. The aim of the present study is to examine whether the place of residence, type of illnesses or a number of illnesses would make a difference on late-life depression. For this purpose, older adults living at home (N= 1100) and nursing home (N=1177) participated in the present study. The Demographic Information Form, including the type and number of medical diseases, and the Geriatric Depression Inventory were applied. Results demonstrated that older adults having two or more medical diseases had higher scores of late-life depression than those with one medical disease and those without suffering any medical disease. Older adults with suffering only psychiatric disease or digestive system disease had a higher level of late-life depression. Besides, older adults having chronic medical diseases had higher scores of late-life depression such as patients with psychiatric disorders, digestive system diseases, cardiovascular system diseases, metabolic and endocrine disorders, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, central nervous system -neurological disorders, urinary system diseases, and sensory system disease. Results were discussed in the light of literature about medical diseases, late-life depression, and caring needs of older adults.