Depression among older adults in the United States and England.

TitleDepression among older adults in the United States and England.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsZivin, K, Llewellyn, DJ, Lang, IA, Vijan, S, Kabeto, MU, Miller, EM, Langa, KM
JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
Volume18
Issue11
Pagination1036-44
Date Published2010 Nov
ISSN Number1545-7214
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, depression, England, Female, Health Behavior, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, United States, White People
Abstract

CONTEXT: Depression negatively affects health and well being among older adults, but there have been no nationally representative comparisons of depression prevalence among older adults in England and the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to compare depressive symptoms among older adults in these countries and identify sociodemographic and clinical correlates of depression in these countries.

DESIGN AND SETTING: The authors assessed depressive symptoms in non-Hispanic whites aged 65 years and older in 2002 in two nationally representative, population-based studies: the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8,295 Health and Retirement Study respondents and 5,208 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing respondents.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The authors measured depressive symptoms using the eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The authors determined whether depressive symptom differences between the United States and England were associated with sociodemographic characteristics, chronic health conditions, and health behaviors.

RESULTS: Significant depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score ≥4) were more prevalent in English than U.S. adults (17.6% versus 14.6%, adjusted Wald test F([1, 1593]) = 11.4, p < 0.001). Adjusted rates of depressive symptoms in England were 19% higher compared with the United States (odds ratio: 1.19, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.40). U.S. adults had higher levels of education, and net worth, but lower levels of activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living impairments, tobacco use, and cognitive impairment, which may have contributed to relatively lower levels of depressive symptoms in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS: Older adults in the United States had lower rates of depressive symptoms than their English counterparts despite having more chronic health conditions. Future cross-national studies should identify how depression treatment influences outcomes in these populations.

DOI10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181dba6d2
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20808088?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Aged, 80 and over/Depression/Health Behavior/Health Status/Health Surveys/Prevalence/Risk Factors/epidemiology

Endnote ID

25240

Alternate JournalAm J Geriatr Psychiatry
Citation Key7531
PubMed ID20808088
PubMed Central IDPMC3786867
Grant ListR01 AG027010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG 027010 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG09740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States