Prevalence of subthreshold depression in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of subthreshold depression (StD) in older adults shows considerable variation across studies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of subthreshold depression in elderly people.

METHODS

We conducted a thorough literature search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, Wan Fang Data, CNKI, and VIP. Statistical analyses were carried out using STATA version 16.0. Our study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023494210).

RESULTS

Seventy-seven studies involving 225,232 individuals were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of subthreshold depression was 18.6 % (95 % CI: 16.0 %-21.2 %, I =99.8 %, p<0.001. Subgroup analyses showed the prevalence of StD in older adults varied depending on the screening tools used and the continent of the study. Funnel plots and Egger's test did not reveal any significant publication bias (Egger's test: p = 0.057).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of subthreshold depression in older adults is high, suggesting attention needs to be paid to the mental health of the elderly. To prevent a larger public health issue, it is imperative to implement timely and effective preventive measures and interventions, focusing on early detection and intervention.