Prevalence of depression and its correlates in Hong Kong's Chinese older adults.
OBJECTIVE
Because of the rapid aging of the population and inconsistent findings of previous epidemiological studies in Hong Kong, a prevalence study of depression among older adults was timely. The authors assessed the prevalence of depression among older adults and identified factors associated with it.


METHODS
The authors interviewed a random representative sample of 917 community-dwelling Chinese adults age 60 and over. The 15-item Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale with a cutoff of > or = 8 was used to identify clinically significant depression in the older adults.


RESULTS
The authors found that 11.0% and 14.5% of older Chinese men and women, respectively, scored above the cutoff, a prevalence rate similar to those found in other countries, including the United States, England, and Finland. Factors that were associated with an increased likelihood of depression among older adults included poor self-rated health, long-term pain, vision problems, higher level of impairment in activities of daily living, residing in Hong Kong less than 20 years, financial strain, and having less social support.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of depression among older Chinese adults in Hong Kong is more or less similar to rates found in Western countries. The data suggest that older adults who receive less social support are more likely to be depressed.
Chi
Iris
I
Sau Po Centre on Aging, The Univ. of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, USA. irischi@hku.hk
Yip
Paul S F
PS
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Chou
Kee Lee
KL
Chan
Kin Sun
KS
Kwan
Chi Wai
CW
Conwell
Yeates
Y
Caine
Eric
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors