Depressive Symptoms in Elderly Chinese Primary Care Patients: Prevalence and Sociodemographic and Clinical Correlates

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression thereafter) and to identify the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of depression in a sample of elderly patients treated in the primary care setting in Wuhan, China. Background: Primary care is an opportune setting for the management of late-life depression in China, but there have been no representative studies on the clinical epidemiology of depression in elderly Chinese primary care patients. Methods: In total, 752 elderly patients (≥ 65 years) were consecutively recruited from 13 primary care centers in Wuhan, China, and interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. Depression was assessed with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Results: Of the elderly Chinese primary care patients, 30.6% had depression (GDS-15 ≥ 5). Correlates of depression were an education level of primary school or less (odds ratio [OR]: 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-2.77, P < .001), poor financial status (OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.16-4.15, P = .016), lack of an exercise habit (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06-1.74, P = .023), 2 or more chronic medical conditions (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.34-2.69, P < .001), and loneliness (OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 2.46-5.08, P < .001). Conclusions: Depression is prevalent among elderly Chinese primary care patients, indicating that elderly patients treated in primary care have a high level of need for mental health services in China. There is an urgent need to integrate mental health services into primary health care.