The impact of age, gender, and race on the relationship between depression and self-rated health in community-dwelling older adults: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the prediction of baseline depression for subsequent changes in self-rated health is consistent across different age cohorts, gender, and racial groups.


METHODS
A total of 6,714 participants who were 65 years old or older and took part in both the first and the second wave of Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest-Old (AHEAD) national survey of community-dwelling older adults were examined.


METHODS
A two-year prospective cohort study.


RESULTS
Baseline depression was an independent risk factor, which not only decreased the odds of having substantial improvement in self-rated health but also increased the possibility of having substantial decline in self-rated health in older men and women, and in Blacks and Whites of all age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Early prevention and treatment of depression among community-dwelling older adults may not only reduce their health decline but also promote their health.
Han
B
B
Special Populations Research Branch, Division of Programs for Special Populations, Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. bhan@hrsa.gov
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*