Prevalence of Depression among Older Adults-Results from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly Study.
BACKGROUND
Depression is a signiﬁcant public health issue across all sociodemographic groups and is identiﬁed as a common and serious mental health problem particularly among the older adult population. The aims of the current study were to determine the prevalence of depression and subsyndromal depression among older adults in Singapore.


METHODS
The Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study was a comprehensive single phase, cross-sectional survey. Stage 1 Geriatric Mental State-Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy (GMS-AGECAT) depression syndrome was used for this analysis. Association of depression and subsyndromal depression with sociodemographic characteristics, social support as well as comorbidity with chronic physical illnesses and quality of life was assessed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of GMS-AGECAT depression and subsyndromal depression was 3.7% and 13.4%, respectively. The odds of depression were signiﬁcantly higher among those aged 75 to 84 (2.1) as compared to those aged 60 to 74 years and in those who had a history of depression diagnosis by a doctor (4.1). The odds of depression were higher among those of Indian and Malay ethnicities (5.2 and 3.2 times, respectively) as compared to those of Chinese ethnicity. Those with depression and subsyndromal depression were associated with more disability, poorer life satisfaction, and medical comorbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the prevalence of depression seems to have decreased as compared to a decade ago wherein the prevalence of depression was estimated to be 5.5%. This positive trend can be ascribed to concerted efforts across various disciplines and sectors, which need to be continually strengthened, monitored and evaluated.
Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore.
Mythily
M
Subramaniam
Edimansyah
E
Abdin
Rajeswari
R
Sambasivam
Janhavi A
JA
Vaingankar
Louisa
L
Picco
Shirlene
S
Pang
Esmond
E
Seow
Boon Yiang
BY
Chua
Harish
H
Magadi
Rathi
R
Mahendran
Siow Ann
SA
Chong
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D044465:White People