Citation

Luppa M, Luck T, König HH, Angermeyer MC, Riedel-Heller SG. J. Affect. Disord. 2012; 142(1-3): 166-171.

Affiliation

Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2012.05.009

PMID

22840627

Abstract

AIMS: The aim of the study was to follow the natural course of late-life depressive symptoms within a German population-based study. METHODS: Within the Leipzig Longitudinal Study of the Aged (LEILA 75+), a representative sample of 1265 individuals aged 75 years and older were interviewed every 1.5 years over 8 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D, German-specific cut-off score ≥23). RESULTS: The incidence of depressive symptoms was 34 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval 31-37). In a multivariate regression model, female gender, poor self-rated health status, stroke, risky alcohol consumption, a poor social network, higher number of specialist visits, functional impairment, and CES-D score at baseline were significant risk factors of future depressive symptoms. We observed remission in 60%, an intermittent course in 17% and a chronic course in 23% of the participants. No baseline characteristic distinguished the remission group from the persistently depressed. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms in late life are common and highly persistent. In the present study encountered risk factors entailed potentialities for secondary prevention.

Language: en