title: Walk on the sunny side of life--epidemiology of hypovitaminosis D and mental health in elderly nursing home residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Old age is a well-known risk factor for both depression and hypovitaminosis D, and an association between both conditions has been postulated. We document the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in nursing home residents, and we examine the link with self-reported depressive symptoms and pharmacotherapy for depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross- sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  nursing homes in Antwerp, Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy elderly (n=589), with a mean age of 84 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We detected depressive symptoms by means of SF-36, a validated quality of life assessment; we registered the use of antidepressants and anxiolytics, and we measured serum 25(OH)D concentrations in all participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost our entire study population appeared to be vit D deficient. Comparison of the most severely and least deficient subgroups showed a consistent tendency towards more depressive symptoms and more use of antidepressants in the group with the lowest vit D level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to preventable vit D deficiency. The relevance of the association with depressive symptoms and the possibilities for treatment are critically reviewed in the discussion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary care, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verhoeven
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanpuyenbroeck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez-Hartmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wens
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Remmen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014807:Vitamin D