Race and vascular depression risk in community-dwelling older adults.
OBJECTIVE
Authors examined racial differences in cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and overall depressive symptomatology.


METHODS
The authors applied a correlational design using a depression inventory, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and self-report CVRF data from black and white community-dwelling elderly subjects (N=362).


RESULTS
Black subjects were more likely than whites to screen positive for depression, but there were no race differences in CVRFs. Across races, greater rates of CVRFs were associated with higher scores on the CES-D. CVRFs and lower education level were independent predictors of positive depression screening on the CES-D.


CONCLUSIONS
CVRFs were associated with depression in black and white elderly subjects. Future research should examine race differences within vascular depression, utilizing broader measures of CVRFs.
Azar
Armin R
AR
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Life Sciences 317, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. armin.azar@louisville.edu
Murrell
Stanley A
SA
Mast
Benjamin T
BT
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*