title: Quality of Life, Family Support, and Comorbidities in Institutionalized Elders With and Without Symptoms of Depression.
abstract: The institutionalization of elders can decrease the health status and quality of life in this population. The aim of this study was to analyze the socio-demographic, quality of life, family support, and comorbidities variables in institutionalized elders with and without symptoms of depression. This was a cross-sectional study in institutions for long permanence for the elderly in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Two institutionalized elderly groups were compared (138 elders: 69 with and 69 without depressive symptoms). The instruments used were: mini-mental state examination, geriatric depression scale in the reduced version, socio-demographic questionnaire, quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life abbreviated-WHOQOL-bref), and inventory of perception of family support. Elders with depressive symptoms had inferior quality of life than those without depressive symptoms. Other factors that negatively influenced the quality of life in this population include: low economic conditions, occurrence of comorbidities, and deficient family assistance. These results have important implications in the decision making process with regard to strategies for improving the health status of institutionalized elders.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Program of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Science, Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte UFRN, Senador Salgado Filho Avenue, S/N - Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59078-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aurigena Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Student of the Post Graduation Program in Health and Society, Rio Grande do Norte State University/UERN, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosa Angélica Silveira
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rebouças Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Student of the Post Graduation Program in Health and Society, Rio Grande do Norte State University/UERN, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Stefani Souza
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: de Menezes
authors.affiliation: Student of Physician, Rio Grande do Norte State University/UERN, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrid Iana Fernandes
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Post Graduation Program in Functional and Structural Biology/Post Graduation Program Health Science, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte/UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimundo Fernandes
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysical and Pharmacology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte/UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. carolineaddisonfarma@yahoo.com.br.|Post Graduation Program in Health and Society/UERN, Mossoró, RN, Brazil. carolineaddisonfarma@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Caroline Addison Carvalho Xavier
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Depression; Institutionalized elderly; Quality of life