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Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community
Rajkumar AP, Thangadurai P, Senthilkumar P, Gayathri K, Prince M, Jacob KS.. International psychogeriatrics, 2009-02-26
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Depression in old age is an important public health problem causing considerable morbidity and disability worldwide. There is a dearth of community studies from India investigating geriatric depression and its associated risk factors. This study aimed to establish the nature, prevalence and factors associated with geriatric depression in a rural south Indian community. Methods We recruited 1000 participants aged over 65 years from Kaniyambadi block, Vellore, India. We assessed their socio-demographic profile, psychiatric morbidity, cognitive functioning, anthropometrics and disability status using the following structured assessment tools: Geriatric Mental State, Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, Modified CERAD 10 word list learning task, History and Aetiology Schedule Dementia Diagnosis and Subtype, WHO Disability Assessment Scale II, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory. We adopted a case control framework to study the factors associated with geriatric depression. Results Prevalence of geriatric depression (ICD-10) within the previous one month was 12.7% (95% CI 10.64-14.76%). Low income (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.08-2.91), experiencing hunger (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.56-4.26), history of cardiac illnesses (OR 4.75; 95% CI 1.96-11.52), transient ischemic attack (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.17-5.05), past head injury (OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.36-5.36) and diabetes (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.15-4.72) increased the risk for geriatric depression after adjusting for other determinants using conditional logistic regression. Having more confidants (OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.06-0.26) was the significant protective factor. Age, female gender, cognitive impairment and disability status were not significantly associated with geriatric depression. DSM-IV diagnosis of major depression was significantly correlated with experiencing hunger, diabetes, transient ischemic attack, past head injury, more disability and less nourishment; having more friends was protective. Conclusions Geriatric depression is prevalent in rural south India. Poverty and physical ill health are risk factors for depression among elderly while good social support is protective.
Key findings
- This study aimed to establish the nature, prevalence and factors associated with geriatric depression in a rural south Indian community.
- We adopted a case control framework to study the factors associated with geriatric depression.
- Results Prevalence of geriatric depression (ICD-10) within the previous one month was 12.7% (95% CI 10.64-14.76%).
- Having more confidants (OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.06-0.26) was the significant protective factor.
- Age, female gender, cognitive impairment and disability status were not significantly associated with geriatric depression.
Why it matters
This community study in rural south India found a prevalence of geriatric depression of 12.7% and identified factors associated with it, including low income, hunger, cardiac illness, transient ischemic attack, past head injury and diabetes. It concerns depression in older adults rather than the treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants1,000
- Effect size12.7%; 14.76%; OR 1.78
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International psychogeriatrics) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Psychogeriatrics: journal h-index 161 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,000 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 185 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.7 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author K. S. Jacob: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Christian Medical College, Vellore: institution h-index 268 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19243657) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1017/s1041610209008527
- PubMed: 19243657
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Psychogeriatrics →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rajkumar, A. P., Thangadurai, P., Senthilkumar, P., Gayathri, K., Prince, M., & Jacob, K. S. (2009). Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community. International psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610209008527
Vancouver
Rajkumar AP, Thangadurai P, Senthilkumar P, Gayathri K, Prince M, Jacob KS. Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community. International psychogeriatrics. 2009. doi:10.1017/s1041610209008527. PMID: 19243657.
BibTeX
@article{rajkumar2009-19243657,
author = {Rajkumar, A. P. and Thangadurai, P. and Senthilkumar, P. and Gayathri, K. and Prince, M. and Jacob, K. S.},
title = {{Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community}},
journal = {International psychogeriatrics},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1017/s1041610209008527},
pmid = {19243657},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1041610209008527}
}
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