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Prevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

TitlePrevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsThielke, SM, Diehr, P, Unutzer, J
JournalAging Ment Health
Volume14
Issue2
Pagination168-76
Date Published2010 Mar
ISSN1364-6915
KeywordsAge Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cohort Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality Assessment, Prevalence, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Quality of Life, Sex Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract<p><b>PURPOSE: </b>To explore the association of major depressive symptoms with advancing age, sex, and self-rated health among older adults.</p><p><b>DESIGN AND METHODS: </b>We analyzed 10 years of annual assessments in a longitudinal cohort of 5888 Medicare recipients in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Self-rated health was assessed with a single question, and subjects categorized as healthy or sick. Major depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale, with subjects categorized as nondepressed (score < 10) or depressed (> or =10). Age-, sex-, and health-specific prevalence of depression and the probabilities of transition between depressed and nondepressed states were estimated.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The prevalence of a major depressive state was higher in women, and increased with advancing age. The probability of becoming depressed increased with advancing age among the healthy but not the sick. Women showed a greater probability than men of becoming depressed, regardless of health status. Major depressive symptoms persisted over one-year intervals in about 60% of the healthy and 75% of the sick, with little difference between men and women.</p><p><b>IMPLICATIONS: </b>Clinically significant depressive symptoms occur commonly in older adults, especially women, increase with advancing age, are associated with poor self-rated health, and are largely intransigent. In order to limit the deleterious consequences of depression among older adults, increased attention to prevention, screening, and treatment is warranted. A self-rated health item could be used in clinical settings to refine the prognosis of late-life depression.</p>
DOI10.1080/13607860903046537
Alternate JournalAging Ment Health
PubMed ID20336548
PubMed Central IDPMC3622544
Grant ListU01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC015103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH073553 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
N01HC55222 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
K23 MH093591 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
N01HC75150 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
U01HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC045133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC035129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States