Risk Factors for Depressive Illness among Elderly Gopd Attendees at Upth

Abstract

Depression among the elderly is associated with very high morbidity and suicide rates. In view of the fact that this cohort of patients often have concomitant psychosocial and biomedical health concerns it would be of interest to determine the risk factors for developing this debilitating illness. Objective: To determine the risk factors for depressive illness among elderly patients attending the GOPD of UPTH. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 elderly GOPD attendees at UPTH, Nigeria. The respondents completed a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire containing the Geriatric Depression Scale (a depression screening tool). Results: The male to female ratio was 1:1.5. Most of the patients fell into the 65-69 year age group. The men were significantly more educated than the women. 42 (28%) of the patients were found to be depressed. 34 (80.9%) of them were female. This difference was statistically significant. In addition, older age groups, urban dwelling (especially with children), poor family support, marital disharmony, widowhood, bereavement, poor educational background and low social status were found to be risk factors for depressive illness in the elderly. Prior history of depression, stressful life events, regular usage of antidepressant drugs, antihypertensives, antidiabetic and anti oncotic agents were also found to be risk factors. Ironically, unemployment and living alone were not found to be risk factors.