Profile of depressed aged in a city community of Fortaleza

Abstract

The depression in senior patients is a very common problem, interfering in their life quality There are many studies considering this health problem, as it has been noticed the relationship between depression and advanced age and a singular kind of depression in seniors. This study intended to identify cases of depression presence in senior patients assisted in the area of Curió Community in the Terezinha Parentein the city of Fortaleza and to evaluate the association between the disease and the socioeconomic and demographic profile of the studied population. It concerns an exploratory-descriptive study with quantitative focus. The data was collected through structured questionnaire and the Scale of Geriatric Depression (SGD) within 15 items which had been applied into in all volunteered patients above 60 years by the community agents which were properly trained to apply it. The prevalence of depression in the present study was of 37,6% and the distribution of cases between the genders was of 84,4% affecting for women and 15.6% affecting for men in the studied population. The prevalence of depression was bigger in aged the youngest ones with 59,38% of the cases between 60 and 69 years, 37.5% between 70 and 79 years and 3.12% above 80 years. In relation to the financial situation of the aged ones of the present study, it was verified that only 9.4% of the aged ones with depression lived with superior income the 2 minimumwage. It was observed that 74.2% of the detected cases of depression in the aged ones of the total sample live in multi generation environment, which means, seniors with children and grandchildren. Amongst aged with hipertension or diabetes, which are cases of depression according to SGD, 10% presents mellitus diabetes, 55% present hypertension and 35% present both the illnessess. Based in the study carried through in the aged ones of the Curió, it can be considered that some actions of health promotion and prevention of illnesses to improve the taken care of life quality quality of life of the aged one in the Basic Units of Health of the Family in the City of Fortaleza.