Relationship between Age and Depressive Symptoms among Institutionalized Elderly Veterans in Northern Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Depression was important in the care for the elderly, especially for institutionalized residents. While the association between elder age and depression remains to be confirmed, the prevalence of depression does report a trend of rising with age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of age and depressive symptoms among residents of a veterans home in northern Taiwan. Methods: Residents aged over 65 in a veterans home were invited for the study after excluding subjects with limitation of communication and altered consciousness. Physical function was determined by Minimum Data Set resource utilization group activities of daily living score (RUG ADL score), and quality of life was measured by Minimum Data Set social engagement score. Depressive symptoms were screened by short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the cutoff of ＞5 was defined as with depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, the cognitive status was evaluated by Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). Results: In total, 594 residents (80.9±5.4 years), all males, were recruited and 92.8% were physically independent. The mean GDS-15 score of all study subjects was 2.0±2.3, and the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 8.8% (52/594). In addition, the mean MMSE score was 26.8±3.7. By partial Pearson correlation, age and GDS-15 score were not significantly related (p=0.79), and the prevalence of depressive symptoms and different age stratas were statistically insignificant (p=0.34). Conclusion: Depression is common in the elderly, but depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with elder age among elderly residents in the veteran home. Further investigations are needed to clarify the complex interrelationship between age and depression in other settings.