Prevalence of depression among older Americans: the Aging, Demographics and Memory Study.

TitlePrevalence of depression among older Americans: the Aging, Demographics and Memory Study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSteffens, DC, Fisher, GG, Langa, KM, Potter, GG, Plassman, BL
JournalInt Psychogeriatr
Volume21
Issue5
Pagination879-88
Date Published2009 Oct
ISSN Number1041-6102
Call Numbernewpubs20090908_ADAMSDepr.pdf
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer disease, Black People, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Status, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological tests, Personality Assessment, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic factors, United States, White People
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have attempted to provide estimates of depression prevalence in older adults. The Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS) is a population-representative study that included a depression assessment, providing an opportunity to estimate the prevalence of depression in late life in the U.S.A.

METHODS: The ADAMS sample was drawn from the larger Health and Retirement Study. A total of 851 of 856 ADAMS participants aged 71 and older had available depression data. Depression was measured using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview - Short Form (CIDI-SF) and the informant depression section of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). We estimated the national prevalence of depression, stratified by age, race, sex, and cognitive status. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association of depression and previously reported risk factors for the condition.

RESULTS: When combining symptoms of major or minor depression with reported treatment for depression, we found an overall depression prevalence of 11.19%. Prevalence was similar for men (10.19%) and women (11.44%). Whites and Hispanics had nearly three times the prevalence of depression found in African-Americans. Dementia diagnosis and pain severity were associated with increased depression prevalence, while black race was associated with lower rates of depression.

CONCLUSIONS: The finding of similar prevalence estimates for depression in men and women was not consistent with prior research that has shown a female predominance. Given the population-representativeness of our sample, similar depression rates between the sexes in ADAMS may result from racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

Notes

PMID: 19519984

DOI10.1017/S1041610209990044
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19519984?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Depression/PREVALENCE/Elderly

Endnote ID

20830

Alternate JournalInt Psychogeriatr
Citation Key7349
PubMed ID19519984
PubMed Central IDPMC2747379
Grant ListK24 MH070027-06 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG027010-03 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K24 MH70027 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
K24 MH070027 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG027010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740-14 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH054846 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States