Direct costs associated with depressive symptoms in late life: a 4.5-year prospective study

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Hans-Helmut König ◽  
Dirk Heider ◽  
Hanna Leicht ◽  
Tom Motzek ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground: Depression in old age is common. Only few studies examined the association of depressive symptoms and direct costs in the elderly in a cross-sectional way. This study aims to investigate prospectively health service use and direct costs over a course of 4.5 years considering also different courses of depressive symptomatology.Methods: 305 primary care patients aged 75+ were assessed face-to-face regarding depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), and service use and costs at baseline and 4.5 years later. Resource utilization was monetarily valued using 2004/2005 prices. The association of baseline factors and direct costs after 4.5 years was analyzed by multivariate linear regression.Results: Mean annual direct costs of depressed individuals at baseline and follow-up were almost one-third higher than of non-depressed, and highest for individuals with chronic depressive symptoms. Most relevant cost drivers were costs for inpatient care, pharmaceuticals, and home care. Costs for home care increased at most in individuals with chronic depressive symptoms. Baseline variables that were associated with direct costs after 4.5 years were number of medications as a measure of comorbidity, age, gender, and depressive symptoms.Conclusions: Presence and persistence of depressive symptoms in old age seems to be associated with future direct costs even after adjustment for comorbidity. The findings deign a look to the potential economic consequences of depressive symptoms in the elderly for the healthcare system in the future.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-216
Author(s):  
Edison Vitório de Souza Júnior ◽  
Sterline Therrier ◽  
Cristiane dos Santos Silva ◽  
Bianca de Moura Peloso-Carvalho ◽  
Lais Reis Siqueira ◽  
...  

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre sexualidad y variables biosociodemográficas y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores. Método: Se trata de un estudio seccional diseñado con 292 personas mayores. La recolección de datos se realizó entre agosto y octubre de 2020. Se utilizó la Escala de Experiencias Sexuales y Afectivas de Ancianos y la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica. Se utilizaron pruebas de Mann-Whitney, correlación de Spearman y pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis, adoptando un intervalo de confianza del 95% para todos los análisis estadísticos.Resultados: Predominaron los varones (52,1%) y entre 60 y 64 años (46,6%). La prevalencia de síntomas depresivos fue del 30,1% para los casos leves y del 8,6% para los graves. Los ancianos con síntomas depresivos experimentaron peor el acto sexual, las relaciones afectivas y las adversidades físicas y sociales relacionadas con la sexualidad. La única dimensión de la sexualidad que se asoció con las variables biosociodemográficas fue el acto sexual, mostrando que es mejor vivido por los ancianos en unión estable (p = 0.023) y entre quienes conviven con la pareja por un período ≤ 5 años, en comparación con los mayores de 20 años (p = 0,001). Además, solo la dimensión acto sexual se correlacionó negativamente y con magnitud moderada entre los síntomas depresivos graves (ρ = -0,442; p = 0,027), lo que indica que estas dos variables exhiben comportamientos inversamente proporcionales. Conclusión: La sexualidad se asocia con algunas variables biosociodemográficas y se correlaciona con síntomas depresivos severos en ancianos. Objective: To analyze the association of sexuality with the bio-sociodemographic variables and depressive symptomatology in the elderly. Method: This is a sectional study designed with 292 elderly people. Data were collected between August and October 2020. The Elderly Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, adopting a 95% confidence interval for all statistical analyses.Results: The participants were predominantly male (52.1%) and aged between 60 and 64 years (46.6%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.1% for mild cases and 8.6% for severe cases. The elderly with depressive symptomatology experienced worse the sexual act, affective relationships, and physical and social adversities related to sexuality. The only dimension of sexuality that was associated with the bio-sociodemographic variables was the "sexual act," proving to be better experienced by the elderly in stable unions (p = 0.023) and among those who live with their partner for a period ≤ 5 years, when compared to those with living together for more than 20 years (p = 0.001). In addition, only the Sexual act dimension correlated negatively and with moderate magnitude with severe depressive symptoms (ρ = -0.442; p = 0.027), indicating that these two variables present inversely proportional behaviors.Conclusion: Sexuality is associated with some bio-sociodemographic variables and correlated with severe depressive symptoms among the elderly. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a sexualidade com as variáveis biosociodemográficas e sintomatologia depressiva em idosos. Método: Trata-se de um estudo seccional delineado com 292 idosos. Realizou-se a coleta de dados entre agosto e outubro de 2020. Foi utilizada a Escala de Vivências Afetivas e Sexuais do Idoso e a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica. Utilizou-se os testes de Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman e Kruskal-Wallis, adotando intervalo de confiança de 95% para todas as análises estatísticas.Resultados: Predominaram-se os participantes do sexo masculino (52,1%) e com idade entre 60 e 64 anos (46,6%). A prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva foi de 30,1% para os casos leves e 8,6% para os severos. Os idosos com sintomatologias depressivas pior vivenciaram o ato sexual, as relações afetivas e as adversidades física e social relacionadas à sexualidade. A única dimensão da sexualidade que se associou com as variáveis biosociodemográficas foi o ato sexual, demonstrando ser melhor vivenciada pelos idosos em união estável (p=0,023) e entre aqueles que convivem com o parceiro por um período ≤ 5 anos, quando comparados a aqueles com convivência superior a 20 anos (p=0,001). Além disso, somente a dimensão ato sexual se correlacionou de maneira negativa e com moderada magnitude entre os sintomas depressivos severos (ρ= -0,442; p=0,027), indicando que essas duas variáveis apresentam comportamentos inversamente proporcionais.Conclusão: A sexualidade está associada à algumas variáveis biosociodemográficas e correlacionada às sintomatologias depressivas severas entre os idosos.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Silva Freitas Guimarães ◽  
Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares

ABSTRACT Objective: verify the prevalence of abuse and probable alcohol dependence in the elderly; describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the elderly; and verify the factors associated with alcohol abuse and probable dependence in the elderly. Method: cross-sectional study, observational, domiciliary survey type, conducted with 614 elderly people living in the urban area of the city of Uberaba, Brazil. The Mini Mental State Examination, sociodemographic instrument, Older Americans Resources and Services Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale and Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test - Geriatric Version were used. Statistical analysis was performed in the Statiscal Package for Social Sciences. Results: the prevalence of abuse and probable alcohol dependence was 26.5%. Among the elderly with abuse and probable dependence on alcohol, there was predominance of males, 60 |- 70 years old, who lived with a spouse or partner, had 1 |- 5 years of schooling, individual monthly income from 1 -| 3 minimum wages, five or more morbidities and no indication of depressive symptoms. Abuse and probable alcohol dependence were associated with males and the presence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: the study reinforces the need to identify early abuse and probable alcohol dependence in the elderly and to invest in health action strategies for the purpose of health promotion, disease prevention and rehabilitation of the elderly.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosangela Galli ◽  
Emílio Hideyuki Moriguchi ◽  
Neide Maria Bruscato ◽  
Rogerio Lessa Horta ◽  
Marcos Pascoal Pattussi

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security, aiming to improve quality of life as people age. A series of studies had demonstrated that a lower prevalence of depression is found among more active elderly. Objective: To evaluate the association between indicators of active aging and depressive symptoms among the elderly (aged 60 years or more). Method: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,006 elderly people (aged 60 years or over) from a small-sized Brazilian municipality. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale - 15, with cutoff point ≥ 6 symptoms. Active aging was evaluated using indicators such as: active occupational situation, manual work, reading and physical activities. Data analyses used modified Poisson regression to obtain crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR). Results: Most of the elderly people were: white, women and aged between 60 and 74 years. All the indicators of active aging were associated with the outcome. After controlling for socioeconomic, demographic and health variables, elderly people who worked, participated in groups, did manual work and maintained interests such as reading and talking to friends had lower prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to those not doing these activities. Conclusions: Active aging approaches may serve as a valuable mental health promotion strategy aimed at the elderly.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat ◽  
Khajonsak Pongpanit ◽  
Somrudee Hanmanop

ABSTRACT Low physical activity and depression may be related to cognitive impairment in the elderly. Objetive: To determine depression and physical activity (PA) among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: 156 older adults, both males and females, aged ≥60 years, were asked to complete the Thai Mini-Mental State Examination (Thai-MMSE), a global cognitive impairment screening tool. Seventy-eight older adults with cognitive impairment and 78 older adults without cognitive impairment were then separately administered two questionnaires (i.e., the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale; TGDS and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; GPAQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing cognitive impairment in the groups of older individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Results: A cross-sectional study of elderly with a mean age of 74.47 ± 8.14 years was conducted. There were significant differences on the depression scale and in PA between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Further, participants with low PA and high level of depressive symptoms had an increased risk of cognitive impairment (Odds ratio = 4.808 and 3.298, respectively). Conclusion: Significant differences were noted in PA and on depression scales between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Therefore, increased PA and decreased depressive symptoms (i.e., having psychological support) are suggested to reduce the risks of cognitive impairment in older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (suppl 2) ◽  
pp. 88-96
Author(s):  
Ariene Angelini dos Santos-Orlandi ◽  
Allan Gustavo Brigola ◽  
Ana Carolina Ottaviani ◽  
Bruna Moretti Luchesi ◽  
Érica Nestor Souza ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms of elderly caregivers. Method: a cross - sectional study carried out with 341 elderly caregivers enrolled in Family Health Units of a city in the countryside of São Paulo State. The interviews were domiciliary and included questionnaire for characterization of the caregiver, Fried’s frailty phenotype, family APGAR (family functionality), Geriatric Depression Scale (depressive symptoms) and item 3 of the Herth Hope Scale (loneliness). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and solitude (independent variables), and frailty and pre-frailty (dependent variables). Results: there was an association between frailty, loneliness and depressive symptoms. Elderly caregivers had increased odds of 158% presenting pre-frailty, and 360% of frailty. Elderly caregivers with depressive symptoms had an increased chance of 242% of presenting fragility. Conclusion: elderly and lonely caregivers with depressive symptoms are more likely to be frail and pre-frail.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl 3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael da Costa Santos ◽  
Rafaella Queiroga Souto ◽  
Ana Maria de Almeida ◽  
Gleicy Karine Nascimento de Araújo ◽  
Rute Costa Régis de Sousa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify, among elderly people victims of violence, factors associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive function. Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 56 elderly people classified in situation of violence. To do so it was used the Brazil Old Age Shedule (BOAS), the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Mini-mental State examination (MMSE). Results: Depressive symptoms were more predominant in elderly men, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, with no job, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone; and the cognitive deficit prevailed in women, over 70 years old, without partner, illiterate, who did not work, receiving up to 1 minimum wage and who lived alone. Conclusion: Among the elderly population victim of violence, lack of a partner and cognitive impairment were associated to depressive symptoms; and finding themselves living alone, with no partner and being illiterate were associated to cognitive deficit.


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Camargo de Oliveira ◽  
Ariene Angelini dos Santos ◽  
Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of quantitative character. A total of 107 institutionalized elderly were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to track depressive symptoms) and the Family APGAR (to assess family functioning). The correlation coefficient of Pearson’s, the chi-square test and the crude and adjusted logistic regression were used in the data analysis with a significance level of 5 %. The institutionalized elderly with depressive symptoms were predominantly women and in the age group of 80 years and older. Regarding family functioning, most elderly had high family dysfunctioning (57 %). Family dysfunctioning was higher among the elderly with depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between family functioning and depressive symptoms. The conclusion is that institutionalized elderly with dysfunctional families are more likely to have depressive symptoms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taishi Tsuji ◽  
Satoru Kanamori ◽  
Ryota Watanabe ◽  
Meiko Yokoyama ◽  
Yasuhiro Miyaguni ◽  
...  

AbstractThe current study investigated the relationship between the frequency of watching sports and depressive symptoms among older adults. This study used cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a nationwide mail survey of 21,317 older adults. Depressive symptoms were defined as a Geriatric Depression Scale score of ≥ 5. Participants were queried regarding the average frequency at which they watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet over the past year. Among the 21,317 participants, 4559 (21.4%) had depressive symptoms, while 4808 (22.6%) and 16,576 (77.8%) watched sports on-site and via TV/Internet at least once a year, respectively. Older adults who watched sports on-site a few times/year (prevalence ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.74) or 1–3 times/month (0.66, 0.53–0.82) were less likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-spectators after adjusting for frequency of playing sports, exercise activities, and other potential confounders. Meanwhile, a dose–response relationship was confirmed for watching via TV/Internet (prevalence ratio of 0.86, 0.79, and 0.71 for a few times/year, 1–3 times/month, and ≥ 1 time/week, respectively). This study suggested that watching sports on-site or via TV/Internet, regardless of whether they regularly engage in sports, may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among older adults.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Aydoğan ◽  
A Ünsal ◽  
D Arslantaş

Abstract Background Malnutrition is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Malnutrition increases the number of hospitalizations and prolongs the length of hospitalization by disrupting organ functions, increasing the number and severity of infections and delaying wound healing. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of suspected malnutrition in the elderly, to examine some related variables and to evaluate the depression. Methods The study is a cross-sectional study conducted between March-April 2019 in individuals aged 60 years and older living in Sivrihisar. Sample size was calculated as 579. Cluster sampling method used. Data was collected by door to door in 4 neighborhoods determined by randomly. Mini Nutritional Assessment Test-Short Form (for malnutrition), Katz Daily Living Activities Scale (for dependency) and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (for depression) were used. Chi-square test, Mann Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis were used for the analyzes. Results The study group consisted of 220 (38%) women and 359 (62%) men. The mean age was 68.9±6.4 (ranged 60-93). Frequency of suspected malnutrition was 25% (n = 145). Being 80 years of age or older (OR:3.24, CI:1.53-6.85), having a primary and lower education level (OR:2.54, CI:1.32-4.90), history of chronic illness (OR:2.34, CI:1.33-4.03), using dentures (OR:1.62, CI:1.03-2.55) and suspected depression (OR:4.97, CI:3.17-7.78) are important risk factors for malnutrition. Those with suspicion of malnutrition had lower scores on DLA (z = 8.982;p=0.001). Conclusions Malnutrition was found to be an important health problem for the elderly. The frequency of suspected malnutrition is higher in individuals with depression. Those with suspected malnutrition have higher level of dependency. In order to reduce the frequency of malnutrition, it may be beneficial to increase the awareness of the elderly and caregivers and to give importance to the elderly nutrition of primary health care providers. Key messages Depression is an important risk factor for malnutrition. Malnutrition increases the dependence of the individual on daily activities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s235-s235
Author(s):  
L. Lemos ◽  
H. Espírito-Santo ◽  
S. Simões ◽  
F. Silva ◽  
J. Galhardo ◽  
...  

IntroductionElderly institutionalization involves an emotional adaptation and the research shows that the risk of depression increases.ObjectivesEvaluate the impact of a neuropsychological group rehabilitation program (NGRP) on depressive symptomatology of institutionalized elderly.AimsNGRP influences the decrease of depressive symptoms.MethodsElderly were assessed pre- and post-intervention with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and divided into a Rehabilitated Group (RG), a Waiting List Group (WLG), and a Neutral Task Group (NTG).ResultsIn this randomized study, before rehabilitation, 60 elderly people (RG; 80.31 ± 8.98 years of age; 74.2% women) had a mean GDS score of 13.33 (SD = 9.21). Five elderly included in the NTG (80.13 ± 10.84 years; 75.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 10.60 (SD = 4.72). Finally, 29 elderly in the WLG (81.32 ± 6.68 years; 69.0% women) had a mean GDS score of 14.93 (SD = 6.02). The groups were not different in GDS baseline scores (F = 0.74; P = 0.478). ANCOVA has shown significant differences (P < 0.05) in GDS scores between the three groups after 10 weeks. Sidak adjustment for multiple comparisons revealed that elderly in the WLG got worse scores in GDS, comparing with elderly in RG (P < 0.01), and with elderly in NTG (P < 0.05).ConclusionsElderly that are not involved in a task get worse in depressive symptomatology. Being involved in a structured group task means lower depressive symptoms and being in a NGRP means even greater results.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


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