[Depressive symptoms among the elderly: a cross-sectional population-based study]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Depressive symptoms are a significant public health concern among the elderly population.
• Understanding the prevalence and associated factors is crucial for effective intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly population of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul.
• To identify factors associated with depressive symptoms in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in Pelotas in 2014.
• Two-stage cluster sampling included 1,451 elderly individuals (≥ 60 years).
• Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-10) with a cut-off of ≥ 5.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15.2% (95% CI 13.2 to 17.2).
• Higher occurrence was linked to being female, economic hardship, unemployment, physical inactivity, poor self-reported health, and functional disability.

Conclusions:

• Targeted identification and intervention for depressive symptoms in the elderly are essential.
• Addressing associated factors like socioeconomic status, health, and physical activity is critical for policy and planning.