Survey on depression status of elderly residents in a Shanghai community / 中华全科医师杂志

Surveys on depression status of elderly population in a community of Shanghai Jing'an District were carried out in 2005 and 2008 respectively. The cluster sampling method was used in the study,1731 and 2315 community residents aged 60 -89 were selected in two surveys. The depression status was evaluated with geriatric depression scale (GDS). During the first survey 297 out of 1731 people were identified as depression with a prevalence rate of 17. 2%; during the second survey 374 out of 2315 people were found to have depression with a prevalence rate of 16. 2%. The factors related to depression status included family support, hobby, ability of self-taking care, family finance and chronic diseases.