Prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among the elderly in Middle Anatolia, Turkey

The present cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of depression among the elderly, and to examine the relationship between depression and dependency in activities of daily living.

According to the records of the Beylikova Community Health Center, there were 251 individuals aged 65 years and older living in the town center, and 203 (80.8%) of them had been reached. The depression status was assessed by using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Katz's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale. Among the statistical analyses, the χ(2) -test and Spearman's correlation analysis were used. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The prevalence of depression was found to be 45.8% (93 persons). The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in women, in those with a history of any chronic disease and in those living alone. The scores on the GDS and thus the severity of depression decreased with increasing scores on ADL and IADL scales (for each, P < 0.05).

Depression seen in nearly every second older individual implies that the problem is very common. It was concluded that primary healthcare should be integrated into community-based care, and it would be appropriate to plan early diagnosis and treatment programs for the elderly.