Key result
Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology were present in 30% and 14% of older adults, respectively, with female gender significantly associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RRR 1.69).
Why the study?
Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology are common but often neglected in older adults, prompting an assessment of their rates and associated characteristics in a socioeconomically deprived area of Brazil.
Cross-Sectional (n=3,356)
Yes
Relative Risk: 1.69 (95% CI 1.41–2.04)
Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among older adults in socioeconomically deprived areas of Brazil, highlighting the need for primary care interventions.
High depressive (30%) and subthreshold (14%) symptom rates in deprived Brazilian elders warrant routine primary care screening; leaves open scalable interventions.
Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology are common but often neglected in older adults. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess rates of depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology, and the characteristics associated, among older adults living in a socioeconomically deprived area of Brazil. METHODS: This study is part of the PROACTIVE cluster randomised controlled trial. 3356 adults aged 60+ years and registered in 20 primary health clinics were screened for depressive symptomatology with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Depressive status was classified according to the total PHQ-9 score and the presence of core depressive symptoms (depressed mood and anhedonia) as follows: no depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 score 0-4, or 5-9 but with no core depressive symptom); subthreshold depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 score 5-9 and at least one core depressive symptom); and depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10). Sociodemographic information and self-reported chronic conditions were collected. Relative risk ratios and 95% CIs were obtained using a multinomial regression model. RESULTS: Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology were present in 30% and 14% of the screened sample. Depressive symptomatology was associated with female gender, low socioeconomic conditions and presence of chronic conditions, whereas subthreshold depressive symptomatology was only associated with female gender and having hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology is highly prevalent in this population registered with primary care clinics. Strategies managed by primary care non-mental health specialists can be a first step for improving this alarming and neglected situation among older adults.
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Nakamura et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology (n=3,356). Female gender vs. Male gender was evaluated on Depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9 score >= 10) (RRR 1.69, 95% CI 1.41-2.04). Depressive and subthreshold depressive symptomatology were present in 30% and 14% of older adults, respectively, with female gender significantly associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RRR 1.69).
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