title: [Socializing groups as protective factor against depression in elderly people. Barranquilla, Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The depression is a principal problem of public health. The principal aim of this study is to determine the role of the social groups as factor protective in elderly, to evaluate the agreement by American Psychiatric Association Criterions and Hamilton Depression test, and also to determine other socio-cultural risk factors associated with depressive syndrome in elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey. The sample consisted of 602 elderly people (eligible subjects) were men (223) and women (379) between 60 and 94 years (males and females), residents in the south-west of Barranquilla, Colombia. A previously tested, self answer questionnaire was used, therefore, we needed a report consent. Risk measures: Odds Ratio (OR-95% Confidence intervalue), Kappa test to agreement by the nine criteria of the American Psychiatric Association and Hamilton test so, screening testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participation in social groups was a protector factor. (Odds Ratio = 0.5; 95% CI 0.34-0.73, p = 0.001). The rate 29.9% was obtained with prevalence of depression in elderly (21.4%-39.4%) affecting principally males (32.7%). The agreement by Kappa test = 0.63 was very important or good. Sensibility = 56.1% (48.5%-63.4%) Specificity = 0.93% (97.8%-99.8%) and Predictive Positive Value = 97.1% (91.2%-99.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey was to determine risk factors related to depression in elderly in anyway can be potentially modifiable. The familiar disfunction by moderate and serious, the lack as blindness and deafness, the loneliness, the housingness and low incomes were obtained with risk factors associated to depression. The participation in a social group is a protective factor to depression syndrome in elders. The nine criteria of the American Psychiatric Association to allow the depressed patient exactly as sick even though is not necessary to screening because this test is low sensibility for used in a population elderly.
authors: Departamento de Salud Familiar y Comunitaria, Programa de Medicina, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia. rtuesca@uninorte.edu.co
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Tuesca-Molina
authors: Norma
authors: N
authors: Fierro Herrera
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Molinares Sosa
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Oviedo Martínez
authors: Yesid
authors: Y
authors: Polo Arjona
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Polo Cueto
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Sierra Manrique
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population