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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Jun 27;19(1):832.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7136-z.

Prevalence of depression among the elderly (60 years and above) population in India, 1997-2016: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Manju Pilania  1 , Vikas Yadav  2 , Mohan Bairwa  3 , Priyamadhaba Behera  4 , Shiv Dutt Gupta  3 , Hitesh Khurana  5 , Viswanathan Mohan  6 , Girish Baniya  7 , S Poongothai  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of depression among the elderly (60 years and above) population in India, 1997-2016: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Manju Pilania et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: There is lack of information on the magnitude of depression among elderly population in India. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly population in India.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, IndMed, and Google Scholar were searched to identify articles reported community-based prevalence of depression among elderly population using screening tools. This study included the articles published during the years 1997 to 2016. Studies conducted in the special population groups, hospitals, reported only a subcategory of depression, and not specified the screening tool were excluded. Data were extracted from published reports and any missing information was requested from authors. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed. The publication bias was evaluated by using Egger's test and visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots.

Results: Fifty-one studies from 16 States of India were included as 56 datasets, which estimated the prevalence of depression among Indian elderly population as 34.4% (95% CI: 29.3-39.7). In sub-group analysis, the pooled prevalence was higher among females, rural populations, and in the eastern part of the country. Studies using non-probability sampling, and GDS and CES-D screening tool showed higher prevalence. Exclusion of the studies with sample size less than 100 and low-quality studies (score < 5/8) had no effect on the estimate of the prevalence. The studies that excluded dementia before assessment of depression had lower prevalence.

Conclusion: About one third elderly population of India suffered from depression with female preponderance. The estimates varied with type of study tool, geographic region, sampling methods, and presence of dementia. The pooled estimate should be interpreted with caution as the studies included in this review had varied methodological approach and screening tools.

Keywords: Depression; Elderly; India; Meta-analysis; Prevalence; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flowchart of selection of studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Estimated prevalence of depression among elderly persons in India pooling included studies, 1997–2016
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Estimated prevalence of depression among female elderly persons in India pooling included studies, 1997–2016
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Estimated prevalence of depression among male elderly persons in India pooling included studies, 1997–2016
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Estimated prevalence of depression among elderly persons in States of India, 1997–2016. Map was created by authors using ArcGIS 10.5 (ESRI, RedLands, USA)
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Estimated prevalence of depression among elderly persons in India pooling good quality studies (equal or more than 5) only, 1997–2016 (sensitivity analysis)
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Funnel plot with pseudo 95% confidence limits
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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