Socio-medical aspects of depression among elderly adults in Serbia

Abstract

Depression is the most frequent mental health problem in older age with serious consequences on personal, interpersonal and social level. The aim of this study was to determine the association of demographic factors, socio-economic factors and health status characteristics, with the presence of depressive symptoms in the elderly persons. The survey was conducted as a part of the national study “Health Survey of the Serbian population” in 2013. Data on the population aged 65 years and over were used for the purposes of this study (3540 respondents). PHQ-8 questionnaire was used to assess the presence of symptoms of depression. The relations between the presence of depressive symptoms, as a dependent variable, and a set of independent variables was examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Depression (PHQ-8 score≥10) was registered in 10% of the population aged 65 and above, wherein it was statistically significantly higher in women (12.7%) than in men (6.5%). Limitations in performing of daily activities showed to be the strongest predictor of depression in the elderly, while respondents who have had serious limitations had even six times more chanse to develop depression (OR=6.84). Respondents who rated their health as “bad or very bad” for 49.5% more frequently manifested depressive symptoms compared to those who evaluated their health as “very good or good” (OR=3.49). Respondents who have had two or more chronic diseases were three times more likely to have depression (OR=3.1) compared to people without chronic disease.