Depressive symptoms and associated factors in elderly people in the Primary Health Care

Authors

  • Rosmarie Hajjar
  • Giovanna Gaudenci Nardelli
  • Eliana Maria Gaudenci
  • Álvaro da Silva Santos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2017000600004

Keywords:

Depression, Antidepressive Agents, Aged, Primary Health Care.

Abstract

Objective: to analyze depressive symptoms and its associated factors, the use of antidepressants and the presence of a diagnosis of depression in the elderly. Methods: cross-sectional study with 248 elderly people attended in Basic Health Units using the Geriatric Depression Scale - Short Form. A chi-square test, the odds ratio and a binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: depressive symptoms were identified in 32.7% of the elderly, 25.4% with scores indicative of mild depression and 7.3% of severe depression. Physical activity and comorbidities were the factors associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. Among the elderly, 22.2% presented a previous diagnosis of depression and 17.0% of them used antidepressants. Conclusion: depressive symptoms were associated with physical inactivity and comorbidities. Fewer than half of the elderly with indicatives of severe depression used antidepressants. The report of a previous diagnosis of depression was more frequent than the indicatives of severe depression.

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Published

2018-01-09

How to Cite

Hajjar, R., Nardelli, G. G., Gaudenci, E. M., & Santos, Álvaro da S. (2018). Depressive symptoms and associated factors in elderly people in the Primary Health Care. Rev Rene, 18(6), 727–733. https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2017000600004

Issue

Section

Research Article

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