Depression among elderly patients admitted to a sub-acute medical care and rehabilitation center in Bahrain

Abstract

Background: Depression is common among community indwelling elderly. It is even more common among in-patients. Depressed elderly individuals have a poorer quality of life, lower rehabilitation success, and a higher mortality. The aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors in elderly patients admitted in a Rehabilitation and sub-acute medical care center in Bahrain.Method: All elderly patients 60 years old and over, admitted to the center during a 6 month period were included in the study. Geriatric depression scale (GDS), Mini-mental State exam (MMSE), Barthel activities of daily living (ADL) Index, and a medical and social history were obtained from each patient. Further evaluation of depression using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -IV (DSM-IV) criteria was done for each patient with positive GDS. Results:The study included all 51 elderly admitted to the center in 6 months, 23 females (45.1%) and 28 males (54.9%) with a mean age of 75.59±9.32 (60-95). The prevalence of depression was found to be 39.2% with no statistically significant gender difference. There was a positive correlation between the severity of depressive symptoms and age, poor functional status, and poor cognitive function. Conclusion:There is a high rate of depression among elderly patients admitted to medical facilities with significant association with the functional and cognitive capacity of the elderly. Depression is under estimated and further studies in our region are needed to assess the prevalence and detection rate in different health care settings.

The magnitude and correlates of geriatric depression using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) – a Bahrain perspective for the WHO 2017 campaign ‘Depression – let’s talk’

“…The prevalence at the day care centers was as high as 42% 17 and among the elderly patients admitted to a sub-acute medical care, and the prevalence was 29% at a rehabilitation center. 18 Despite the enormity of the problem, depression is often overlooked by healthcare professionals and goes untreated. Van den Berg et al 19 reported that screening for depression is cost-effective as much as 80% to prevent major depression.…”