[Contextual effects associated with depression risk variability in the elderly, Antioquia, Colombia, 2012]

Depression is an affective disorder where interest in living is lost and functional areas like work, feelings, personal life, and relationships are negatively altered. However, little has been said about the association between place of residence and this mood disorder.

To determine the effects of the municipality and block of residence on the depression risk variability in the elderly in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia, in 2012.

This was a multilevel descriptive study of secondary source records of 4,060 elderly people from the Department of Antioquia. Demographic, social and functional characteristics were assessed to calculate raw and adjusted odds ratios and find an association between the risk of depression, as measured by Yesavage´s Geriatric Depression Scale, and context variables (municipality and block of residence) in the design of the model. We used Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation methods and the deviance information criterion to assess goodness of fit.

The prevalence of the risk of depression was 29.5% and we found an association with ages over 75 years, being female, residing in rural areas, and widowhood. Additionally, they had a higher risk of anxiety, moderate functional capacity and malnutrition. The municipality and block of residence were associated with this risk in the elderly.

The municipality and block of residence had a 10% contribution toward the total variability in the risk of depression for the elderly. This information is important to encourage participation and adherence of the elderly to community groups.