[Depressive symptoms among the elderly: a cross-sectional population-based study].
A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, in 2014 with the aim of measuring the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among the elderly. Sampling was carried out by clusters in two stages. All the elderly people (≥ 60 years) living in the selected households were invited to participate. The occurrence of depressive symptoms was measured using GDS-10 (Geriatric Depression Scale) with ≥ 5cut-off. Information for 1,451 elderly people was obtained. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15.2% (95% CI 13.2 to 17.2). After multivariate analysis, the occurrence of depressive symptoms was higher among women, the elderly in economically straitened circumstances, those who were out of work, the physically inactive, those with worse self-reported health and those with functional disability. Greater attention should be given to the identification of depressive symptoms among the elderly and associated factors to inform policy and planning interventions for treatment and management of this ailment at the collective level.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas. R. Marechal Deodoro 1160, Centro. 96020-220 Pelotas RS Brasil. natalia.hellwig@gmail.com.
Natália
N
Hellwig
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas. R. Marechal Deodoro 1160, Centro. 96020-220 Pelotas RS Brasil. natalia.hellwig@gmail.com.
Tiago Neuenfeld
TN
Munhoz
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Pelotas. R. Marechal Deodoro 1160, Centro. 96020-220 Pelotas RS Brasil. natalia.hellwig@gmail.com.
Elaine
E
Tomasi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors