Depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt.

Depression is projected to be the leading cause of disease burden in older populations by the year 2020. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence depression among a group of elders in Alexandria, Egypt and compare the characteristic of elders in 3 different settings. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 100 people aged 60+ years in a government elderly home, an internal medicine ward in Alexandria Main University Hospital and a slum area in Alexandria. Based on the Geriatric Depression Scale (short form) the highest prevalence of scores that were suggestive or indicative of depression was among elders who were hospitalized (79.0%), had ophthalmic diseases (85.7%) or tumours (80.0%), had 2+ chronic morbidities (64.9%), were taking 4+ medications daily (83,3%), were more physically dependent and had 2+ hospital admissions in the last 3 years (90.9%). Modifiable factors that impact on depression need to be considered in developing interventions for improving mood states in the elderly.