Liječnički vjesnik, Vol. 135 No. 5-6, 2013.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY – PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATION WITH HEALTH CARE
Draženka Vadla
Jadranka Božikov
Sanja Blažeković-Milaković
Luka Kovačić
Sažetak
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.
Ključne riječi
Aged – psychology; Depression – epidemiology; Anxiety – epidemiologija; Health services – utilization; Croatia – epidemiology
Hrčak ID:
172474
URI
Datum izdavanja:
27.6.2013.
Posjeta: 2.258 *