[Influencing factors for depressive symptoms in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China]

Objective: To analyze influencing factors for depressive symptoms in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China. Methods: We recruited 2 180 participants aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, a sub-cohort of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2017. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships of socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral lifestyle, chronic disease prevalence, functional status, family and social support with depressive symptoms in the elderly. Results: The detection rate of depression symptoms was 15.0% in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas of China, and the detection rate of depression symptoms was 11.5% in men and 18.5% in women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that the detection rate of depressive symptoms was lower in the elderly who had regular physical exercises (OR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.74), frequent fish intakes (OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.39-0.83), recreational activities (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.44-0.96), social activities (OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.11-0.73) and community services (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.50-0.93). The elderly who were lack of sleep (OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.49-2.80), had visual impairment (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.08-2.18), had gastrointestinal ulcer (OR=2.97, 95%CI: 1.53-5.77), had arthritis (OR=2.63, 95%CI: 1.61-4.32), had higher family expenditure than income (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.17-2.78) and were in poor economic condition (OR=4.58, 95%CI: 2.48-8.47) had higher detection rate of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The status of doing physical exercise, fish intake in diet, social activity participation, sleep quality or vision, and the prevalence of gastrointestinal ulcers and arthritis were associated with the detection rate of depressive symptoms in the elderly.