Prevalence and factors associated with geriatric depression in El Oro, Ecuador: impact on quality of life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v69.112848Keywords:
Depression, older adult, physical activity, quality of life, social determinants of healthAbstract
Introduction: Depression in older adults is a public health problem that significantly affects their quality of life.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of depression and the main associated factors in older adults in El Oro, Ecuador, to support comprehensive intervention strategies.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adults aged 65 years and older, assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Sociodemographic, economic, and health variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate models.
Results: 52.3% of respondents had depression, and 8.3% had severe depression. Factors with significant associations included age, occupation, perceived social support, difficulty performing physical activity/walking, economic status, and chronic health problems, the most influential risk factor (aOR: 14.67; 95% CI: 3.916–54.957). The most frequent diseases were high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and chronic kidney disease.
Discussion: The high prevalence of depression reflected the impact of the pandemic and was consistent with other studies in developing countries. The impact of socioeconomic and health factors on older adults highlighted the need for multifactorial interventions that address physical health, mental health, and social determinants.
Conclusions: A high prevalence of depression and chronic health disorders was evident in older adults. The main risk factors were chronic health problems, poor economic conditions, lack of social support, and lack of employment. Advanced age acted as a protective factor.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ana María Iraizoz Barrios, Viviana García Mir, Germán Brito Sosa, Jovanny Angelina Santos Luna, Anita Maggie Sotomayor Preciado, Gisela de los Ángeles León García, Martha Judith Pereira Valdez, Flor María Espinoza Carrión
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