Rev Rene (Jan 2017)

Sintomas depressivos e fatores associados em idosos na Atenção Primária à Saúde

  • Rosmarie Hajjar,
  • Giovanna Gaudenci Nardelli,
  • Eliana Maria Gaudenci,
  • Álvaro da Silva Santos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2017000600004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 6
pp. 727 – 733

Abstract

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Objective: to analyze depressive symptoms and its associated factors, the use of antidepressants and the presence of a diagnosis of depression in the elderly. Methods: cross-sectional study with 248 elderly people attended in Basic Health Units using the Geriatric Depression Scale - Short Form. A chi-square test, the odds ratio and a binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: depressive symptoms were identified in 32.7% of the elderly, 25.4% with scores indicative of mild depression and 7.3% of severe depression. Physical activity and comorbidities were the factors associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. Among the elderly, 22.2% presented a previous diagnosis of depression and 17.0% of them used antidepressants. Conclusion: depressive symptoms were associated with physical inactivity and comorbidities. Fewer than half of the elderly with indicatives of severe depression used antidepressants. The report of a previous diagnosis of depression was more frequent than the indicatives of severe depression.