Factors relating to depressive symptoms among elderly people with chronic vestibular dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors relating to depressive symptoms among elderly people with chronic vestibular dysfunction.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study in which 120 elderly people with chronic vestibular dysfunction answered the Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed (p<0.05 and 95% CI).


RESULTS
The patients presented a mean score of 12.86 +/- 6.39 points on the Geriatric Depression Scale, and 67 of them (55.8%) scored above the cutoff of 11 points. The predictive model for worsening of depressive symptoms was composed of female gender, memory and concentration disorders, insomnia, hearing disorders, poor sight, nonuse of walking aids and greater emotional impact of dizziness.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater numbers of depressive symptoms among elderly people with chronic vestibular disease were related to the presence of memory and concentration disorders, insomnia, hearing disorders, very poor sight, greater emotional impact of dizziness, female gender and nonuse of walking aids.
Gazzola
Juliana Maria
JM
Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brazil. otoneuro@unifesp.epm.br
Aratani
Mayra Cristina
MC
Doná
Flávia
F
Macedo
Camila
C
Fukujima
Márcia Maiumi
MM
Ganança
Maurício Malavasi
MM
Ganança
Fernando Freitas
FF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology