Related Experiment Videos
Does depression in old age increase only cardiovascular mortality? The Leiden 85-plus Study
David J Vinkers1, Max L Stek, Jacobijn Gussekloo
1Department of General Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. d.j.vinkers@lumc.nl
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|September 8, 2004
Summary
Depression in older adults significantly increases the risk of death from both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes. This finding highlights the critical impact of geriatric depression on overall mortality.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Depression in the elderly is linked to higher cardiovascular disease mortality.
- The impact of depression on non-cardiovascular mortality in older adults remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how depression affects both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality in the aging population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 500 individuals aged 85+ in the Leiden 85-plus Study.
- Annual assessment of depressive symptoms using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).
- Cox proportional-hazards modeling with depression as a time-dependent covariate.
Main Results:
- Depression was associated with a two-fold increase in all-cause mortality (RR 1.83).
- This increased mortality risk was independent of comorbid conditions.
- Both cardiovascular (RR 1.95) and non-cardiovascular (RR 1.75) mortality contributed equally to the excess deaths.
Conclusions:
- Late-life depression elevates the risk of both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality.
- Motivational depletion may be a key factor in the increased mortality observed in elderly individuals with depression.