The prevalence and correlates of depression in elderly outpatients in community health centers

Abstract

• Depression is a common psychological disorder in elderly patients in community health centers. • 619 elderly patients participated in the survey and the prevalence of depression was 26.3%. • The depression of elderly patients was affected by their social demography, health status and medical attendance. • Primary care should incorporate depression into disease management, and control adjustable risk factors of depression. . With the deepening and aggravating of aging in China, depression in the elderly is a common psychological disorder, it can affect the quality of life, and even lead to suicide in severe cases. To understand the prevalence of depression in elderly outpatients in Community health centers (CHCs) and analyze the influencing factors related to depression. We conducted a multi-center, cross-sectional, one-to-one questionnaire survey. The depression symptoms were assessed by the Patients Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-9). In the questionnaire, we also collected the sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and visiting conditions of the patients. The correlates were analyzed through the chi-square test and stepwise logistics regression. 619 elderly patients participated in the survey and the prevalence of depression was 26.3%. Patients with low education level (Junior high school OR=0.454, High school or secondary school OR=0.461, College and above OR=0.291), living in urban(OR=2.793), poor family relationship (80–89 score OR=0.182,≥90 score OR=0.201), low social support (Satisfied OR=0.37), poor self-infected healthy condition(70–79 score OR=0.463, 80–89 score OR=0.13,≥90 score OR=0.043), physical pain(pain sometimes OR=2.002, interfere with daily life OR=3.012), high medical expense (≥400 yuan OR=3.47), no long-term use of medicine (OR=0.326) and frequent visits to CHCs (OR=1.857 ) and general hospitals (≥1 time per month OR=2.08) were the risk factors for depression of elderly patients, all P values <0.05. It is necessary for primary care to incorporate depression into disease management. Through the concerted efforts of family, society and general practitioners, the adjustable risk factors (social demographic and health-related factors) of depression could be controlled to improve the quality of life of patients and the effective use of community health services.