Prevalence of depression among older people in Iraq

Abstract

Background: The global prevalence of mental disorders, including depression, has steadily increased.

Objective: To identifying the prevalence rate of depression and the related predictors among old-age people in Iraq.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2021. A random sampling technique was employed to gather information from the old age patients during their routine visits to outpatient clinic of three public hospitals (Baquba, Ramadi, Samarra), in Iraq. Data collection involved the utilization of a semi-structured questionnaire incorporating the validated Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) administered through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationships between variables in the study. SPSS version 16 was utilized for data analysis, with statistical significance set at a threshold below 0.05.

Results: Data of 344 old-age respondents (range 60-81 years) with a mean age of 75.15 (± 7.52) years have undergone final analysis. More than half were males (50.6%), married (62.2%), ranked themselves as unhealthy (72.4%), physically inactive (70.6%), and financially dependent (71.8%). The overall prevalence of depression was 74.4%. Logistic regression revealed significant associations: elderly females had 3.805 times higher risk (P<0.001,95% CI: 1.999 to 5.241), unhealthy individuals had 2.379 times (P<0.001, 95% CI 1.657 to 3.415), limited activities of daily living (ADL) had 2.650 times (P =0.001, 95% CI: 1.076 to 3.902), and those lacking family support had1.799 times (P = 0.003, 95% CI: 1.040 to 3.746) than their counterparts. 

Conclusion: High depression rates and multiple risk factors necessitate the urgent need for health and political intervention to support patients and promote greater social participation.