Title | Prevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2010 |
Authors | Thielke, SM, Diehr, P, Unutzer, J |
Journal | Aging Ment Health |
Volume | 14 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 168-76 |
Date Published | 2010 Mar |
ISSN | 1364-6915 |
Keywords | Age 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> |
DOI | 10.1080/13607860903046537 |
Alternate Journal | Aging Ment Health |
PubMed ID | 20336548 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3622544 |
Grant List | U01 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 |