Statistics Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh.
Development Studies Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh.
J Affect Disord. 2020 Mar 1;264:157-162. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.025. Epub 2019 Dec 16.
Depressive symptoms are common among older people which are associated with disability, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the associated risk factors for depressive symptoms among older people in Bangladesh.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 people aged ≥65 years from the Meherpur district in Bangladesh. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and categorized into: no depressive symptoms, mild, moderate and severe depressive symptoms. Information was also collected on socio-economic and demographic characteristics, health problems, feeling of loneliness, history of falls and concern about falling. Chi-square test of association and multinomial logistic regression was performed to reveal the determinants of depressive symptoms.
Just over half of the sample were female, aged 70+ years, and lived in rural areas. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 55.5%, and 23.0% mild, 19.0% moderate, and 13.5% having severe levels of depressive symptoms. Older age, sex, residence, marital status, presence of co-morbidities, visual impairment, previous falls, loneliness, and fear of falling were the significant determinants for developing depressive symptoms.
A convenience sampling method was used for data collection among older people from selected communities in a district of Bangladesh. The results do not represent the entire population of Bangladesh. Besides, it was a cross-sectional study, and causality cannot be determined.
Depressive symptoms among older people in Bangladesh is prevalent, and needs to be addressed. Public health programs and strategies are needed to reduce depressive symptoms among older adults in Bangladesh.
抑郁症状在老年人中很常见，与残疾、发病和死亡有关。本研究旨在确定孟加拉国老年人抑郁症状的相关危险因素。
在孟加拉国梅赫拉布尔区进行了一项横断面调查，共纳入 400 名年龄≥65 岁的老年人。使用 15 项老年抑郁量表评估抑郁症状，并分为：无抑郁症状、轻度、中度和重度抑郁症状。还收集了社会经济和人口统计学特征、健康问题、孤独感、跌倒史和对跌倒的担忧等信息。采用卡方检验和多项逻辑回归分析揭示抑郁症状的决定因素。
样本中超过一半为女性，年龄在 70 岁以上，居住在农村地区。抑郁症状的患病率为 55.5%，轻度占 23.0%，中度占 19.0%，重度占 13.5%。年龄较大、性别、居住地、婚姻状况、合并症、视力障碍、既往跌倒、孤独感和对跌倒的恐惧是发生抑郁症状的显著决定因素。
本研究采用方便抽样法从孟加拉国一个区的选定社区中收集老年人数据。结果不能代表孟加拉国的全部人口。此外，这是一项横断面研究，不能确定因果关系。
孟加拉国老年人的抑郁症状较为普遍，需要加以解决。需要制定公共卫生计划和战略，以减少孟加拉国老年人的抑郁症状。
