Prevalence of Depression in the Elderly Population from a Public Primary Care Unit in Michoacán

Abstract

Objective: Determine the prevalence of depression in the elderly population in a primary care facility (Unidad de Medicina Familiar [umf]) in Michoacán, Mexico and its association with gender, education, and age. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was performed. Elderly participants of 60 to 84 years of age from the umf No. 5 of Sahuayo, Michoacán, completed the Yesavage test from March 2019 to June 2019. Gender, education, and age were considered as associated factors. The χ² test was used to identify the differences in proportions between the associated factors and Spearman’s r to determine correlation. Results: 117 elderly patients were included. The prevalence of depression was 40.17%. The prevalence of depression was not different between genders (female: 53.85% and male: 46.15, p = 0.79%), education levels (elementary: 82.91%, secondary: 11.97%, high school: 3.42% and college: 1.71%, p = 0.57), or ages (p> 0.05). The correlation analysis did not show an association between any of the variables. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression in the elderly population was higher than that reported in other groups; however, as previously reported, in the sample studied, associations with gender, education and age were not observed. Depression in the elderly is an underdiagnosed pathology that does not manifest a determining trait. Hence, primary care physicians should perform an intentional search.