title: [Anxiety and depression in elderly - prevalence and association with health care].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in the elderly inhabiting Koprivnica-Kri evci, Istria and Dubrovnik-Neretva Counties and their association with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional cluster survey carried out in 2006, encompassing a total of 1,469 examinees aged 70+. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale was used to screen for self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, which were further associated with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The elderly have shown a high prevalence of borderline and probable anxiety (43%) and depression (53%), and regional differences (p<0.001). The level of anxiety was higher in women than men (p<0.001); as for depression, no statistically significant gender-based differences were found. The prevalence of probable depression increases (p=0.034) and that of probable anxiety decreases (p=0.028) with age. Anxiety and depression are associated with increased use of specialist health care and more frequent hospitalizations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of anxiety and depression in elderly is associated with sociodemographic characteristics and frequent use of health care.
authors.affiliation: Zavod za javno zdravstvo Koprivnirko-kriievarke zupanije. drazenka.vadla@gmail.com
authors.forename: Drazenka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vadla
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bozikov
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blazeković-Milaković
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovacić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence