title: A comparative cross-cultural study of the prevalence of late life depression in low and middle income countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current estimates of the prevalence of depression in later life mostly arise from studies carried out in Europe, North America and Asia. In this study we aimed to measure the prevalence of depression using a standardised method in a number of low and middle income countries (LMIC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-phase cross-sectional survey involving over 17,000 participants aged 65 years and over living in urban and rural catchment areas in 13 sites from 9 countries (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, China, India and Nigeria). Depression was assessed and compared using ICD-10 and EURO-D criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depression prevalence varied across sites according to diagnostic criteria. The lowest prevalence was observed for ICD-10 depressive episode (0.3 to 13.8%). When using the EURO-D depression scale, the prevalence was higher and ranged from 1.0% to 38.6%. The crude prevalence was particularly high in the Dominican Republic and in rural India. ICD-10 depression was also associated with increased age and being female.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generalisability of findings outside of catchment areas is difficult to assess.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late life depression is burdensome, and common in LMIC. However its prevalence varies from culture to culture; its diagnosis poses a significant challenge and requires proper recognition of its expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Memory, Depression and Disease Risk, Avda Constructores 1230, Lima 12, Peru; Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King׳s College London, London, UK; Peruvian University, Cayetano, Heredia, Lima, Peru. Electronic address: mariella.guerra.1066@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King׳s College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Prina
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, UNIFESP, Sao Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: National University Pedro Henriquez Urena.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Memory, Depression and Disease Risk, Avda Constructores 1230, Lima 12, Peru.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.affiliation: Peking University China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: I Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Velazquez
authors.affiliation: Medical University of Havana.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Llibre Rodriguez
authors.affiliation: Peking University China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salas
authors.affiliation: National Autonomous University of Mexico.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Nnamdi Azikiwe Uniiversity.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uwakwe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King׳s College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prince
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D000067562:Late Onset Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Depression; EURO-D; ICD-10; Older-age; Prevalence