Prevalence of depressive symptoms in new Mexico Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence rates, risk factors, and pattern of depressive symptoms in elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs).


METHODS
This survey was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of randomly selected Medicare recipients living in Bernalillo County (Albuquerque, New Mexico). The survey's objective was to examine the health and health-related issues of Hispanic and NHW elderly persons (> or =65 years of age). As part of the survey, participants were administered the Geriatric Depression Scale-short form (GDS).


RESULTS
Complete data were available on 798 subjects with a mean age of 73.7 years, age range 65-96. The prevalence of a GDS score > or =6 was: Hispanic males, 9.5%; Hispanic females, 19.2%; NHW males, 5.4%; and NHW females, 8.7%. Hispanics (P=.001) and women (P=.003) had higher prevalence rates. Sociodemographic variables, health, social support, and the activities of daily living (ADLs) were significantly related to symptoms. English skills (P<.0001) and birthplace (P=.011) were associated with symptoms in Hispanics. Significant differences were found in the response patterns between Hispanics and NHWs. Logistic regression analyses showed that ethnic differences were largely explained by differences in the level of education and income among Hispanics and NHWs.


CONCLUSIONS
A difference was seen in the prevalence rates of depressive symptoms between Hispanic and NHW elderly persons and between men and women. In addition to the traditional risk factors for depressive symptoms, we found that ethnic differences in prevalence rates can be largely explained by education and income differences in the two groups.
Romero
Linda J
LJ
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. ljromero@salud.unm.edu
Ortiz
Irene E
IE
Finley
M Rosina
MR
Wayne
Sharon
S
Lindeman
Robert D
RD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People