engleski

Anxiety and depression in elderly in three Croatian counties: are they associated with socio- demographic characteristics?

Backgroung: The number and proportion of elderly is growing and their mental health is deteriorating with ageing. Objectives: The aims were to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in elderly from three Croatian counties and their association with socio-demographic characteristics: age, gender and living alone/not living alone. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in one mainly rural county (Koprivnica) and two mainly urban counties (Dubrovnik and Pula), as a part of a broader study Second Decennial Survey of the Health Needs and Health care for Older People in Europe within the European network Tipping the Balance Towards Primary Health Care. A sample of 1, 469 people aged 70 or more were derived from the counties’ population registries and interviewed in 2006. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was used to screen for self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression and findings were expressed as normal, borderline or probable which were further associated with socio- demographic characteristics. Data were analysed descriptively and non-parametric tests (Kruskal- Wallis, Pearson's c2) were used for comparisons. Results: High prevalence of probable and borderline anxiety (20 and 24%) and depression (31 and 23%, respectively) was found, with differences between counties (p<0, 001). The highest prevalence of probable and borderline anxiety (28% each) was recorded in Koprivnica and the lowest in Dubrovnik (16 and 19%, respectively). The findings for depression in Koprivnica showed the prevalence of 40 and 23% for probable and borderline respectively, while in Dubrovnik that was 26 and 20%. The prevalence of both disorders, anxiety and depression, were slightly above in Pula than those from Dubrovnik. The level of anxiety was higher in women (24% probable, 25% borderline) than men (14 and 21%, respectively), p<0.001 ; while for depression gender-based difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of probable depression increases with age (from 26% in the age group 70-74 to 43% in the age group 90+ ; p=0.034) and that of probable anxiety decreases (from 21 to 12%, respectively ; p=0.028). Living alone does not affect the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety and depression in elderly is high, particularly in rural areas. The prevalence of anxiety decreases with age while that of depression increases. Women are more likely to show sings of anxiety than man ; living alone was not a significant risk factor. These should be taken into account while planning provision of health care for elderly at a local level.

elderly; cross-sectional study; anxiety; depression

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