Prevalence of Depression and Associated Risk Factors among the Elderly

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study projections show that depression will be the single leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years by 2020 in the developing world.139 The GBD 2000 estimates the point prevalence of unipolar depressive episodes to be 1.9% for men and 3.2% for women, and that 5.8% of men and 9.5% of women will experience a depressive episode in a 12-month period. These prevalence figures vary across populations and may be higher in some populations. 14° Ina meta-analysis of various study reports of community-based mental health surveys on geriatric depressive disorders in those aged 60 years and above, conducted in the continents of Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and South America between 1955 and 2005,the median prevalence rate of depressive disorders in the world for the elderly population was determined to be 10.3%, while among the elderly Indian population, it was determined to be 21.9% [inter quartile range (IQR)11.6-31.1) 1.141 Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder among the elderly, 142 and although India is the second-most populous country in the world in terms of elderly population > 60 years of age, 139, 140 depression in the elderly is not yet perceived as an important health problem in the country. Few community-based studies have been conducted in India so far to address this issue. Hence, this study is planned to conduct to estimate the prevalence of depression in the elderly (> 60 years old) in Kumarapalayam town and to identify the major risk factors for depression in the study population. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of symptoms of depression in the elderly population under study was significantly high (54.45%) in study area. This reflects the need for focusing on greater awareness of depression and to ensure availability and accessibility of appropriate health care support. These findings could guide to devise and implement effective and timely mental health interventions for older adults, in order to prevent geriatric depression and develop a comprehensive strategy for its early diagnosis. With increasing longevity and proportion of the elderly population in India, and the trend toward urbanization and nucleation of the families, depression among the elderly is likely to become a disease demanding "public health problem" status in the near future. Effective support and care of the old age population can promise more fruitful life for our old citizens