Prevalence of Depression Among Elderly Population in India - A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.151120244461Keywords:
Elderly, Depression, Quality of life, Mental health, Systematic reviewAbstract
Background: Depression among the elderly is a global public health concern, impacting quality of life and overall well-being. However, there is a lack of recent systematic reviews or meta-analyses on its prevalence in India. This study aims to update this information through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods: The study utilized the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) as a screening tool for depression among individuals aged 60 and older in India, utilizing electronic databases for community-based cross-sectional studies from inception to date. Pooled prevalence with 95% CI was performed using R statistical software.
Results: 23 community-based cross-sectional studies were included representing 13 Indian states, meeting the inclusion criteria. The combined prevalence of depression among the elderly was estimated to be 47% (95% CI: 0.39; 0.55), with significant heterogeneity observed among studies (I²=98%, p<0.01). The study underscores the considerable depression issue among India's elderly population, emphasizing the urgent need for tailored mental health interventions.
Conclusion: The meta-analysis reveals a high prevalence of depression among India's senior population, highlighting the need for targeted public health initiatives to address this growing crisis and support the mental health needs of the elderly.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Bincy K, Ezhilmuthalvan A, Prashanth S, Pradeep MVM, Padmavathy L, Logaraj M, Nalini V, Mahesh Kumar
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