title: Depression and its association with functional status and physical activity in the elderly in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the functional status and level of physical activity and their association with depression in the elderly population (age 60 and above) in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects were recruited through multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted from July to September 2008. Functional status and physical activity were assessed using activities of daily living (ADL) and physical activity questionnaires, respectively. Depression was evaluated using the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both mean ADL score (9.9±0.2 vs. 9.6±0.2) as well as time spent in physical activity/week (377.3±26.9min vs. 251.7±15.4min) was higher in men than women, respectively. Subjects spending more than 310min (>5.2h) per week in physical activity were 60% less likely to be depressed compared to those who spent less than 120min (<2h) per week (Adjusted OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.7). A one unit increase in ADL score showed a 10% decrease in depression after adjusting for other variables (Adjusted OR=0.9, 95% CI=0.8-0.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a strong association between depression and time spent in physical activities as well as activities of daily living. Our results indicate the potentially important positive role of higher functional status and physical activity in prevention of depression in the elderly in Karachi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: mehreenrahim@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mehreen Anwar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bhamani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: murad.khan@aku.edu.
authors.forename: Murad Moosa
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Policy, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, USA. Electronic address: mehtabkarim@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehtab S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA, USA. Electronic address: mir.umer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammed Umer
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Mir
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Assessment of depression and physical activity in elderly Cross-sectional study in Karachi—Pakistan; Depression; Elderly; Functional status; Karachi; Pakistan; Physical activity