Factors influencing depression in community-dwelling elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who experience depression might have worse health outcomes. The aim of the present study was to explore the occurrence of depression and the factors influencing depression in community-dwelling elderly patients with osteoarthritis of the knee in China. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, correlational descriptive study. The study included 214 participants aged 60 and older diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis.Results: The mean total score of depression was 4.43, and depression correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), education, frequency of falls, number of comorbidities, use of walking aids, taking pain relief or cartilage protectors, pain, stiffness, physical function, social support, mobility function and the muscle strength of lower extremities (r = -0.342 to 0.525). Analysis using hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that falling frequency, using walking aids, the number of comorbidities, BMI, physical function, social support, and stair-climb test explained 40.8% of the variance in depression.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that depression among elderly people with knee OA is a serious problem. Strategies to increase patients’ physical function, prevent falls, lose weight, treat comorbid conditions, and encourage them to increase positive social interaction, and engage in muscle strength training might relieve depression in these patients.

Association between retirement status, savings and geriatric depression in China

“…As a result, they will feel disappointed with their old age, which will lead to greater psychological pressure. With the same reasons, Huang (2015) found that retirement can lead to a decline in the health of older people.…”

“…One study in China using multivariate ordered logistic regressions and data from a survey conducted in China in 2015 found that people with enough savings were 0.36 times less likely to have mental health problems than those people with financial problem meaning savings result in a better mental health (D. Chen, Petrie, Tang, & Wu, 2018). Many studies also have found a negative relationship between economic status and depression meaning people with good economic status has the lower score and lower probability of depression (H. Huang, 2015;Meng & Tang, 2000;Xia, 2018;Xu, 2012). Meng and Tang (2000) also found that one reason rural elderly people are more likely to suffer from depression than their urban counterparts is because of poor economic conditions.…”

“…Usually, individual will be considered having social participation if the individual did any of these activities in the last month: 1. Huang, 2015). Living arrangements affect the health of the elderly mainly because living with their children can affect the health of parents who may be physically, mentally and financially cared for by their children (Z.…”

“…Biologically, aging is associated with a decline in physical function. Most studies found that there is a positive relationship between age and depression meaning as age increases, the probability of depression also increases (Cuntong, 2016;Hu, 2018;H. Huang, 2015;Meng & Tang, 2000).…”