Journal of Affective Disorders Reports (Jan 2021)
The prevalence and correlates of depression in elderly outpatients in community health centers
Abstract
Background: With the deepening and aggravating of aging in China, depression in the elderly is a common psychological disorder, it can affect the quality of life, and even lead to suicide in severe cases. Objective:: To understand the prevalence of depression in elderly outpatients in Community health centers (CHCs) and analyze the influencing factors related to depression. Methods: We conducted a multi-center, cross-sectional, one-to-one questionnaire survey. The depression symptoms were assessed by the Patients Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9). In the questionnaire, we also collected the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and visiting conditions of the patients. The correlates were analyzed through the chi-square test and stepwise logistics regression. Results:: 619 elderly patients participated in the survey and the prevalence of depression was 26.3%. Patients with low education level (Junior high school OR=0.454, High school or secondary school OR=0.461, College and above OR=0.291), living in urban(OR=2.793), poor family relationship (80–89 score OR=0.182,≥90 score OR=0.201), low social support (Satisfied OR=0.37), poor self-infected healthy condition(70–79 score OR=0.463, 80–89 score OR=0.13,≥90 score OR=0.043), physical pain(pain sometimes OR=2.002, interfere with daily life OR=3.012), high medical expense (≥400 yuan OR=3.47), no long-term use of medicine (OR=0.326) and frequent visits to CHCs (OR=1.857 ) and general hospitals (≥1 time per month OR=2.08) were the risk factors for depression of elderly patients, all P values <0.05. Conclusion: It is necessary for primary care to incorporate depression into disease management. Through the concerted efforts of family, society and general practitioners, the adjustable risk factors (social demographic and health-related factors) of depression could be controlled to improve the quality of life of patients and the effective use of community health services.
