ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY – PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH HEALTH CARE
Autori:
Draženka Vadla, Jadranka Božikov, Sanja Blažeković-Milaković, Luka Kovačić
Sažetak
Cilj: Istražiti pojavnost anksioznosti i depresivnosti u starijih osoba u Koprivničko-križevačkoj, Istarskoj i Dubrovačko-neretvanskoj županiji te njihovu povezanost sa socio-demografskim obilježjima i korištenjem zdravstvene zaštite. Metode: Presječno istraživanje provedeno 2006. na uzorku od 1469 ispitanika u dobi od 70 i više godina, odabranih metodom klasterskog uzorka. Stupanj anksioznosti i depresivnosti ocijenjen je HAD-ljestvicom (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) i povezan sa sociodemografskim obilježjima i podacima o korištenju zdravstvene zaštite. Rezultati: U starijih osoba utvrđene su visoke stope prevalencije granične i vjerojatne anksioznosti (43%) i depresivnosti (53%) te regionalne razlike (p<0,001). Žene su anksioznije od muškaraca (p<0,001), a za depresivnost nije nađena statistički značajna razlika među spolovima. S porastom dobi raste prevalencija vjerojatne depresivnosti (p=0,034), a smanjuje se prevalencija vjerojatne anksioznosti (p=0,028). Anksioznost i depresivnost povezane su s povećanim korištenjem specijalističko-konzilijarne zdravstvene zaštite i češćom hospitalizacijom. Zaključak: Visoka prevalencija anksioznosti i depresivnosti u starijih osoba povezana je sa socio-demografskim obilježjima i učestalijim korištenjem zdravstvene zaštite.
Summary
Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in the elderly inhabiting Koprivnica-Križevci, Istria and Dubrovnik-Neretva Counties and their association with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation. Methods: A cross-sectional cluster survey carried out in 2006, encompassing a total of 1,469 examinees aged 70+. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale was used to screen for self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, which were further associated with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation. Results: The elderly have shown a high prevalence of borderline and probable anxiety (43%) and depression (53%), and regional differences (p<0.001). The level of anxiety was higher in women than men (p<0.001); as for depression, no statistically significant gender-based differences were found. The prevalence of probable depression increases (p=0.034) and that of probable anxiety decreases (p=0.028) with age. Anxiety and depression are associated with increased use of specialist health care and more frequent hospitalizations. Conclusion: High prevalence of anxiety and depression in elderly is associated with socio-demographic characteristics and frequent use of health care.
