[Mental health in older men in Chile: a reality to be prioritizedSaúde mental de homens idosos no Chile: uma realidade a ser priorizada]

Subjective Assessments of Quality of Life Are Independently Associated with Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults Enrolled in Primary Care in Chile

In Chile, depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among Chilean older adults, and research that examines the factors associated with them is scarce. This study aimed to determine if subjective assessments of quality of life are associated with positive screen for depressive symptoms among older adults enrolled in primary care in Chile. The participants of the study were people aged 70 years or more enrolled in primary care centers in three Chilean cities. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was used to determine depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic models were used to determine the associations. Overall, 17.28% men, and 26.47% women (p = 0.003) screened positive for depression. Subjective assessments of quality of life, including self-perceived health, memory, quality of life, and pain, were associated with a positive screen for depression. Only 17.65% of men and 43.55% of women who screened positive for depressive symptoms reported a diagnosis of depression. Assessments of quality of life in health checks of older adults in primary care could contribute to narrow the diagnosis and treatment gap by improving the ability to identify those who are more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

An Analysis of the Relationship Between Religiosity and Psychological Well-Being in Chilean Older People Using Structural Equation Modeling

Using a representative sample, we explored the relationship of organizational (ORA), non-organizational (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity (IR) with depressive and anxious symptomatology and loneliness in Chilean older people, and examined mediating mechanisms. Structural Equation Modeling showed a direct effect between ORA and reduced depressive symptomatology and between IR and anxious symptomatology; for indirect effects, the relationship between ORA and depressive and anxious symptomatology was mediated by friends' social support network, while that between IR and the three outcomes studied was mediated by the family support network and resilience. NORA was not associated with any of the outcomes or mediating variables.

Gender differences in positive screen for depression and diagnosis among older adults in Chile

Background

Different factors are associated with late life depression and diagnosis, including gender. It has also been reported that depression among older people is underdiagnosed. As a result, the mental health needs of this group are insufficiently met. The aim of this study was to explore gender differences in the factors associated with positive screens for depression and self-reported diagnosis among older adults in Chile.

Methods

Data from 3786 older adults who participated in the Social Protection Survey in 2016 were analysed. PHQ-9 was used to identify screen-positive cases. Self-reported diagnosis of depression was used to determine the proportion of people with a screen-positive result who had received a diagnosis of depression. Logistic regression models were used to determine sociodemographic and health factors associated with depression and underdiagnosis in older men and women.

Results

The prevalence of a screen-positive result was 20.91% (5.83% major depressive disorder) among men, and 36.38% (12.43% major depressive disorder) among women. 18.77% of men and 34.11% of women with a positive depression screening had received a diagnosis. More educated men were more likely to receive a diagnosis. Older age was associated with a lower probability of diagnosis among older women.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that depressive disorders are undiagnosed in a high proportion of older adults in Chile. Gender is a relevant factor in the underdiagnosis of depression in this group. Further research is needed to understand the factors involved in these gaps, to improve detection and provide timely support and treatment.

Caracterização das violências autoprovocadas cometidas pelas pessoas idosas na Região Sul do Brasil de 2009 a 2016

Resumo Objetivo Descrever as características das pessoas idosas que cometeram violência autoprovocada, notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) na região Sul do Brasil, de 2009 a 2016. Método Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem quantitativa, retrospectivo, descritivo e com dados secundários. As variáveis em relação as características sociodemográficas dos locais e dos meios de agressão foram selecionadas com base nas fichas de notificação. As variáveis foram submetidas à análise estatística descritiva por meio de frequência simples e proporção (%), foi estratificado por faixa etária (60-69 anos; 70-79 anos; 80 anos ou mais) e realizado os intervalos de confiança (IC95%). A significância estatística foi testada através do teste qui-quadrado (χ2) e considerado o valor de Resultados Os resultados mostraram que, na região Sul do Brasil, o perfil das pessoas idosas que cometeram violência autoprovocada são predominantemente de 60 a 69 anos (61,3%), do sexo masculino (56,1%), cor de pele branca (90,9%), com baixo nível educacional (56,3%) e casadas (54,0%). Entre os estados, o Rio Grande do Sul registrou o maior número de notificações (50,7%), predominaram como local de ocorrência a zona urbana (81,8%) e a residência/habitação coletiva (90,2%). Os meios de agressão mais utilizados foram o enforcamento (29,9%) e o envenenamento (24,9%). Observou-se a ocorrência de dois desfechos, a repetição (31,5%) da violência autoprovocada e os registros de óbitos (43,8%). Conclusão O delineamento do perfil epidemiológico, na região Sul do Brasil, identificou grupos de pessoas idosas que necessitam de maior atenção nas ações de prevenção e ocorrência da violência autoprovocada, sendo eles os idosos do sexo masculino, mais jovens e com baixa escolaridade.