PREVALENCE, PRESENTATION AND CO-MORBIDITY PATTERN ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AMONG GERIATRIC PATIENTS ATTENDING A GOPC IN NIGERIA

Background and Objective: The study was done to determine the prevalence, presentation and co-morbidity pattern of depressive illness among the elderly patients attending the Family Medicine clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). This was done against the background of increased morbidity of depressive illness among the elderly culminating in disability and suicidal risk necessitating prevention, screening and timely intervention. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of one hundred and fifty elderly (65 years and older) were recruited into the study by the systematic random sampling technique in which every 5th elderly patient was recruited into the study, clerked, physically examined and eventually administered a questionnaire that included the Geriatric Depression Scale, until the required number was attained. Where necessary, relevant laboratory investigations were requested for to ascertain the significance of somatic complaints and detect the presence of co-morbid medical conditions. Data was analysed with the Epi-info version 3.2.2 software. Results and Conclusion: 28% of the patients were found to be mildly, moderately and severely depressed. Only those with diabetes mellitus (p=0.000) and stroke (p=0.000) had a statistically significant association with depression. The main presenting complaints significantly associated with depression include multiple somatic complaints (X2=15.423, p