BACKGROUND: The association between depression and increased mortality risk in older persons may depend on the severity of the depressive disorder and gender. AIMS: To investigate the association between major and mild depressive syndromes and excess mortality in community-living elderly men and women. METHOD: Depression (Geriatric Mental State AGECAT) was assessed in 4051 older persons, with a 6-year follow-up of community death registers. The mortality risk of neurotic and psychotic depression was calculated after adjustment for demographic variables, physical illness, cognitive decline and functional disabilities. RESULTS: A total of 75% of men and 41% of women with psychotic depression had diet at follow-up. Psychotic depression was associated with significant excess mortality in both men and women. Neurotic depression was associated with a 1.67-fold higher mortality risk in men only. CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly, major depressive syndromes increase the risk of death in both men and women, but mild depression increases the risk of death only in men.
BACKGROUND: The association between depression and increased mortality risk in older persons may depend on the severity of the depressive disorder and gender. AIMS: To investigate the association between major and mild depressive syndromes and excess mortality in community-living elderly men and women. METHOD:Depression (Geriatric Mental State AGECAT) was assessed in 4051 older persons, with a 6-year follow-up of community death registers. The mortality risk of neurotic and psychotic depression was calculated after adjustment for demographic variables, physical illness, cognitive decline and functional disabilities. RESULTS: A total of 75% of men and 41% of women with psychotic depression had diet at follow-up. Psychotic depression was associated with significant excess mortality in both men and women. Neurotic depression was associated with a 1.67-fold higher mortality risk in men only. CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly, major depressive syndromes increase the risk of death in both men and women, but mild depression increases the risk of death only in men.
Authors: M I Geerlings; S Sigurdsson; G Eiriksdottir; M E Garcia; T B Harris; T Sigurdsson; V Gudnason; L J Launer Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2012-05-30 Impact factor: 7.723
Authors: Breno S Diniz; Charles F Reynolds; Meryl A Butters; Mary Amanda Dew; Josélia O A Firmo; Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa; Erico Castro-Costa Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2013-12-18 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Carolien L van den Brink; Marja Tijhuis; Geertrudis A M van den Bos; Simona Giampaoli; Aulikki Nissinen; Daan Kromhout Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2005-09-29 Impact factor: 9.308