Predictive variables of depressive symptoms and anxiety in older adults from primary care: a cross‐sectional observational study

Abstract

BackgroundBy 2050, the number of people aged 60 years and older will have doubled worldwide and the most common mental disorders in this age group are currently depressive symptoms and anxiety. This study aimed to analyze the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (BADLs and IADLs, respectively) in older adults; socio‐demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and environmental variables; and cognitive impairment related to the appearance of depressive symptoms and anxiety.Material and MethodsA cross‐sectional observational study was conducted with 327 participants aged ≥65 years in primary care. The variables were Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale, the Goldberg Anxiety Subscale, socio‐demographic, clinical, lifestyle, environmental variables, BADLs, IADLs, and the Spanish version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination.ResultsAn analysis of variance was carried out for the predictive multiple linear regression models. ‘≥ 1 chronic pathology’ and ‘low dependency’ in BADL are negatively associated with anxiety, while ‘physical activity’ and ‘low dependency’ in BADL are associated with positive factors for depressive symptoms.ConclusionsPredictor variables could improve the early detection of anxiety and depressive symptoms by general practitioners and serve as a basis for future studies and personalised‐adapted cognitive stimulation programs.