Nationwide use of psychotropic drugs for treatment of self-reported depression in the Brazilian urban adult population

Abstract

<jats:p>ABSTRACT: Objective: Antidepressant use is increasing worldwide, but national data on psychotropic drug use by depressed patients in Brazil is lacking. Methodology: Between 2013 and 2014, a representative sample of urban adult individuals were asked if they had a diagnosis of chronic disease, had a medical indication for drug treatment, and were taking chronic medications at the time for each reported diagnosis. We analyzed the frequencies of reported depression and the medications related to this disease. Results: Overall, 6.1% of respondents reported depression. The prevalence increased with age - 9.5% among the elders - was higher among women (8.9%) and in the south of the country (8.9%). As a single disease, the prevalence of depression was higher among young people (17.6%). Among those with multimorbidity, the prevalence of depression rose to 25.7%. Of those who reported depression, 81.3% had medical indication for treatment and 90.3% were under treatment - this proportion was lower among young people (84.5%) and those living in the poorest region (78.6%). Antidepressants accounted for 47.2% of psychotropic drugs taken by respondents with depression, with regional differences - only 30% used antidepressants in the North. Polypharmacy was reported by 22% of those with depression and other chronic diseases. Conclusion: Depression in Brazil, is common among young adults as a single chronic disease and highly prevalent among people with chronic multimorbidity, especially the young. The treatment gap was larger among young people and in the less developed regions of the country.</jats:p>

Utilização de benzodiazepínicos em idosos brasileiros: um estudo de base populacional

“…Indivíduos com história de depressão apresentaram prevalência de utilização de 39,9% e, mesmo após análise ajustada, apresentaram risco cinco vezes maior de utilizarem BZD em relação aos indivíduos sem diagnóstico de depressão. Achados semelhantes foram encontrados em outros estudos que avaliaram a utilização de BZD na população geral e em idosos 23 .…”

Prevalence of self-reported lifetime medical diagnosis of depression in Brazil: analysis of data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey

“… 6 The nationwide study on the use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of self-reported depression in Brazil found that the prevalence increased significantly with age, from 3.5% in the under-40s age group to 9.5% in the 60 years or older group. 7 …”

“…6 The nationwide study on the use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of self-reported depression in Brazil found that the prevalence increased significantly with age, from 3.5% in the under-40s age group to 9.5% in the 60 years or older group. 7 In terms of marital status, a recent meta-analysis, using data from 26 population-based surveys, reported that compared with married people, the OR for depression among divorced individuals reached 8.2 in India and 19.3 in Lebanon, although the study's wide 95% CI (5.0 to 74.4) means that the real effect size is uncertain. 4 The association between depression and smoking is consistently reported.…”

“…The prevalence of depression increased with age and was greater among women and people with chronic multimorbidity (whereas as a single disease, the prevalence of depression was higher among young people). 7 Recognising and identifying disease prevalence and key factors that determine health status are critical for effective national evidence-based policy. 8 Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with the self-reported lifetime medical diagnosis of depression using data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey (PNS-2019).…”

“…The prevalence of depression increased with age and was greater among women and people with chronic multimorbidity (whereas as a single disease, the prevalence of depression was higher among young people). 7 …”