[Depression in older persons. Associated factors]

To determine the proportion of elderly people with depressive disorders and study the possible association with sociodemographic factors, self-perception of health, cognitive function, diseases suffered, drug consumption, sleep disorders and use of services.

An observational crossover study using a home interview.

Community-based.

787 elderly people aged 65 and over, not institutionalised and living in the city of Albacete.

A questionnaire designed for the study was used to gather data on the sociodemographic variables, self-perception of health, diseases suffered, drug consumption, cognitive function, sleep disorders and contacts with the health service. The variables found by logistic regression to be associated independently to the presence of depressive disorders were: being female (OR = 2.75), habitually suffering sleep disorders (OR = 2.75), having self-perception of poor health (OR = 17.61) and cognitive deterioration (OR = 2.45).

It would be advisable to apply a screening test to detect depressive disorders in elderly people with associated factors (being female, having sleep disorders, self-perception of poor health and cognitive deterioration), so that they could benefit from early diagnosis and adequate treatment.