title: Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Institutionalized Elderly.
abstract: Background/Study Context: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder in the elderly that leads to a decrease in quality of life and functional impairment, among other health problems. The study of depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly is scarce in Latin America and can contribute to plan prevention and treatment actions in order to improve health conditions for the residents as well as quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and identify its associated factors in institutionalized elderly.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study is presented herein, carried out in 10 nursing homes of the municipality of Natal (Northeast Brazil). All individuals over the age of 60 were included. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied to verify the depressive symptoms, as well as sociodemographic variables related to the institution and health conditions (comorbidities, medication, body mass index, level of physical activity, mobility, and functional and cognitive capacities). Bivariate analysis was carried out using the chi-square Pearson's test (or Fisher's test) and the linear trend chi-square. Finally, logistic regression was utilized for multivariate analysis.
  
  
  
  The final sample was constituted of 142 elderly, mostly of the female sex (78.9%), with an average age of 79.3 (SD: 8.2). Of these, 65 individuals presented depressive symptoms, with a 45.77% prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37.80-53.97%). The final model verified an association between the presence of depressive symptoms and functional impairment, prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.58 (95% CI: 1.04-2.42), and arterial hypertension, PR = 1.57 (95% CI: 1.07-2.31), adjusted by fecal incontinence, sex, and age.
  
  
  
  Depressive symptoms were present in almost half of the sample of institutionalized elderly, and this condition was associated with functional impairment and arterial hypertension. The results of this work indicate the importance of monitoring depression as well as intervening on these modifiable aspects, to avoid the cascade of negative outcomes associated with this disease and also improve the quality of life of this population group.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Odontology , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.|b Rehabilitation Service , Can Misses Hospital , Ibiza , Illes Baleares , Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jerez-Roig
authors.affiliation: a Department of Odontology , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Nayara Priscila Dantas
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physiotherapy, Health Sciences Faculty of Trairi (FACISA) , Santa Cruz , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Bartolomeu Fagundes
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: de Lima Filho
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physiotherapy , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Amanda
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Farias Bezerra
authors.affiliation: d Department of Physiotherapy , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Monayane Grazielly Leite
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matias
authors.affiliation: a Department of Odontology , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane Macedo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: a Department of Odontology , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabienne Louise Juvêncio
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Amaral
authors.affiliation: e Department of Collective Health , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , RN , Brazil.
authors.forename: Dyego Leandro Bezerra
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: a Department of Odontology , Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , Natal , Rio Grande do Norte (RN) , Brazil.
authors.forename: Kenio Costa
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*