Incidence and risk factors of depressive symptoms in the highest age groups and competing mortality risk. Evidence from the AgeCoDe-AqeQualiDe prospective cohort study

  • Alexander Maier (Shared first author)
  • Cornelius Durrant-Finn (Shared first author)
  • Alexander Pabst
  • Margrit Löbner
  • Marion Eisele
  • Christian Brettschneider
  • Kathrin Heser
  • Luca Kleineidam
  • Siegfried Weyerer
  • Jochen Werle
  • Michael Pentzek
  • Angela Fuchs
  • Dagmar Weeg
  • Edelgard Mösch
  • Birgitt Wiese
  • Anke Oey
  • Hendrik van den Bussche
  • Hans-Helmut König
  • Michael Wagner
  • Wolfgang Maier
  • Steffi G Riedel-Heller
  • Martin Scherer (Shared last author)
  • Melanie Luppa (Shared last author)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Only a few studies have investigated incidence and risk factors of depression in the highest age groups. This study aims to determine incidence rates as well as risk factors of incident depressive symptoms in latest life, adjusting for the competing event of mortality.

METHODS: Data of a prospective, longitudinal, multi-centered cohort study conducted in primary care - the AgeCoDe-/AgeQualiDe study. 2436 GP patients aged 75+ years were assessed from baseline to sixth follow-up every 18 months and from seventh to ninth follow-up every 10 months. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (cut-off ≥6). Competing risk regression models were used to assess determinants of incident depressive symptoms, taking care of accumulated mortality.

RESULTS: The incidence of depressive symptoms was 39 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 36-42; last observed exit 13.26 person-years at risk). In a competing risk regression model, female sex, unmarried family status, subjective cognitive decline as well as vision and mobility impairment were significant risk factors of incident depression.

LIMITATIONS: Excluding individuals with a lack of ability to provide informed consent at baseline may have influenced the incidence of depression. Depressive symptoms were not assessed by DSM criteria. Furthermore, in studies with voluntary participation, participation bias can never be completely avoided.

CONCLUSION: Findings provide a better understanding of risk and protective factors of depressive symptoms in the oldest age taking mortality as a competing event into account. Addressing this aspect in future research may yield new insights in that research field.

Bibliographical data

Original languageEnglish
ISSN0165-0327
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.07.2022

Comment Deanary

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.

PubMed 35460748