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. 2010 Mar;14(2):168-76.
doi: 10.1080/13607860903046537.

Prevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study

Stephen M Thielke  1 , Paula Diehr, Jurgen Unutzer
Affiliations

Prevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study

Stephen M Thielke et al. Aging Ment Health. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the association of major depressive symptoms with advancing age, sex, and self-rated health among older adults.

Design and methods: We analyzed 10 years of annual assessments in a longitudinal cohort of 5888 Medicare recipients in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Self-rated health was assessed with a single question, and subjects categorized as healthy or sick. Major depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale, with subjects categorized as nondepressed (score < 10) or depressed (> or =10). Age-, sex-, and health-specific prevalence of depression and the probabilities of transition between depressed and nondepressed states were estimated.

Results: The prevalence of a major depressive state was higher in women, and increased with advancing age. The probability of becoming depressed increased with advancing age among the healthy but not the sick. Women showed a greater probability than men of becoming depressed, regardless of health status. Major depressive symptoms persisted over one-year intervals in about 60% of the healthy and 75% of the sick, with little difference between men and women.

Implications: Clinically significant depressive symptoms occur commonly in older adults, especially women, increase with advancing age, are associated with poor self-rated health, and are largely intransigent. In order to limit the deleterious consequences of depression among older adults, increased attention to prevention, screening, and treatment is warranted. A self-rated health item could be used in clinical settings to refine the prognosis of late-life depression.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of depressed state by age and sex, for the entire cohort and for those in a self-rated sick or healthy state.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Probability of becoming depressed by age and sex, for women and men starting in sick or healthy states.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Probability of remaining depressed by age and sex, for subjects starting in sick or healthy states.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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