Prevalence and correlates of depression among Saudi elderly

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is a significant health concern among the elderly worldwide.
• Limited data exists on the prevalence and associated factors of depression in the elderly population of Saudi Arabia.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly population in Saudi Arabia.
• To identify personal, social, environmental, and health-related factors associated with depression in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional national survey was conducted from January 1994 to December 1995.
• A stratified two-stage sampling technique included 7970 elderly individuals (60 years and over).
• Data was collected through structured interviews using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, functional, and health status.

Main Results:

• 39% of the elderly subjects reported depressive symptoms, with 8.4% experiencing severe symptoms.
• Factors strongly associated with depression included poor education, unemployment, widowed/divorced status, female gender, and older age.
• Poor housing, limited privacy, low income, dependency on others, multiple medical diagnoses, loss of a relative, social isolation, poor perceived health, functional dependence, and incontinence were also significantly linked to depression.

Conclusions:

• Depressive symptoms are highly common among the elderly in Saudi Arabia.
• Low rates of detection and management highlight a need for improved healthcare strategies.
• Primary care teams, with appropriate training and tools like the Geriatric Depression Scale, can play a vital role in identifying and managing depression in the elderly.