PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY PEOPLE UNDER OUTPATIENT FOLLOW-UP: A CROSS-CROSS STUDY INCLUDING THE PERIOD OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Depression, a prevalent illness in the elderly, can negatively impact autonomy and self-care. Social isolation may be related to depression; thus, periods of restriction, such as those imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, can have a negative impact on mood. This is a cross-sectional study conducted through a review of medical records at a school clinic in Northeast Brazil from 2019 to 2021, during which clinical variables and scores from the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were collected. A total of 186 elderly individuals, aged 60 to 103 years, mostly female and married, were evaluated. Clinical diagnosis of depression was observed in 19.4% of the individuals; however, further studies are needed to assess the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had on this mood disorder. Polypharmacy was present in 64% of the population, and hypertension and dyslipidemia were the most prevalent comorbidities.