Factors associated with depression among the community-dwelling elderly In Kudat, Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: The burden of elderly depression is rising with the growing ageing population, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. In Malaysia, 27.8% of the elderly experience depression, with 16.5% of depressive symptoms reported among community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the elderly in Kudat, a rural area in Sabah.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Malay version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (M-GDS-14). Logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the relationships between elderly depression and sociodemographic, socioeconomic, physical health, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors.

Results: A total of 310 participants were involved, with a mean age of 69.4 years. Most were of Rungus ethnicity (78.7%) and married (73.9%). About 72% had a household income below RM 1,000; half were retirees, while 43.2% were still working. The prevalence of depression was high at 73.2% (95% CI: 70.7, 75.7). Comorbidities and moderate-topoor self-rated health were significantly associated with higher odds of depression, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.99 and 2.09, respectively.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the high level of depression among the elderly in Kudat and the significant association with comorbidities and self-rated health status. Public health programs should focus on managing comorbidities and promoting positive self-perceived health to reduce depression in this population.