Risk factors for depression among elderly in Bangalore urban district: a case control study

Ravindra N. R.; Rashmi M. R.; R. Maheswaran

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20173312

Authors

Ravindra N. R. Department of Community Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India
Rashmi M. R. Department of Community Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India
R. Maheswaran Department of Community Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20173312

Keywords:

Depression, Elderly, Urban, Mental health, Bangalore

Abstract

Background: With a rapidly aging society, geriatric mental health is emerging as an important public health concern. According to the WHO, prevalence of depression in adults aged ≥60 years in developed and developing countries was 0.5 million and 4.8 million respectively in 2004.

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of depression and to assess risk factors of depression among elderly in an urban population.

Methods: A case control study was conducted in May-June 2016 in the Bagalgunte area in Bangalore urban district. Purposive sampling technique was employed and all elderly persons (≥60 years) residing in that area were included. Participants were assessed for depression using validated 15 item (short version) geriatric depression scale (GDS).Those with GDS score >5 were considered as cases and those with GDS score ≤5 as controls. Final sample size was 201. Study variables included socio-demographic parameters and all possible risk factors of depression.

Results: Of the 201 respondents interviewed, 90 (44.8%) were cases and 111 (55.2%) were controls. 159 (79.1%) were aged 60–69 years and 116 (58%) were male. Low socioeconomic status, elderly who were living alone (single/divorced/death of spouse), h/o dependency on others for daily living, negligence, abuse, economic loss in last 5 years, substance abuse, change of residence, insomnia and anorexia were found to be significantly associated with depression among elderly.

Conclusions: In this study, depression among elderly was found to be high. These study findings can help programme managers to focus on mental health of elderly and implement practical and comprehensive strategiesand timely interventions to promote mental health and prevent depression.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biography

Ravindra N. R., Department of Community Medicine, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE

References

Ageing and health. September 2015. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs404/en/. Accessed on 20 June 2017.

Varma GS. Depression in the elderly: clinical features and risk factors. Aging Dis. 2012;3(6):465–71.

Mental health: a state of well-being. Aug 2014. Available at: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/ mental_health/en/. Accessed on 20 June 2017.

Social determinants of mental health. 2014. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/ 10665/112828/1/9789241506809_eng.pdf. Accessed on 20 June 2017.

The global burden of disease. 2004. Available at: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/gbd_report_2004update_full.pdf. Accessed on 20 June 2017.

Behera P, Sharan P, Mishra AK, Nongkynrih B, Shashikant, Gupta SK. Prevalence and determinants of depression among elderly persons in a rural community from northern India. National Med J India. 2016;29(3):129-87.

Cole MG, Dendukuri N. Risk factors for depression among elderly community subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160:1147–56.

Schoevers RA, Beekman AT, Deeg DJ, Geerlings MI, Jonker C, Van Tilburg W. Risk factors for depression in later life; results of a prospective community based study (AMSTEL). J Affect Disord. 2000;59(2):127-37.

Lund C, Silva MD, Plagerson S, Cooper S, Chisholm D, Das J, et al. Poverty and mental disorders: breaking the cycle in low-income and middle-income countries. PRIME Policy Brief 1, 2012.

Sengupta P, Benjamin AI. Prevalence of depression and associated risk factors among the elderly in urban and rural field practice areas of a tertiary care institution in ludhiana. Indian J Public Health. 2015;59(1):3-8.

Geriatrics Depression Scale (GDS-S): Scoring The Short Form. Available at: http://geriatrics.uthscsa. edu/tools/gds%20short%20form.pdf. Accessed on 20 June 2017.

Jain RK, Aras RY. Depression in geriatric population in urban slums of Mumbai. Indian J Public Health. 2007;51:112-3.

Pracheth R, Mayur SS, Chowti JV. Geriatric Depression Scale: A tool to assess depression in elderly. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2013;2:31-5.

Kamble SV, Dhumale GB, Goyal RC, Phalke DB, Ghodke YD. Depression among elderly persons in a Primary Health Centre area in Ahmednagar, Maharastra. Indian J Public Health. 2009;53:253-5.

Rajkumar AP, Thangadurai P, Senthilkumar P, Gayathri K, Prince M, Jacob KS. Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community. Int Psychogeriatr. 2009;21:372-8.

Sanjay TV, Jahanavi R, Gangaboraiah B, Lakshmi P, Jayanthi S. Prevalence and factors influencing depression among elderly living in urban poor locality of bangalore city. Int J Health Allied Sci. 2014;3:105-09.

Vijetha VN, Shalini S, Radhika K. Study of depression among elderly in an urban area of bangalore. J India Aca Ger. 2015;11(1):29-33.