Association of depression and gender with mortality in old age

Abstract

BackgroundThe association between depression and increased mortality risk in older persons may depend on the severity of the depressive disorder and gender.AimsTo investigate the association between major and mild depressive syndromes and excess mortality in community-living elderly men and women.MethodDepression (Geriatric Mental State AGECAT) was assessed in 4051 older persons, with a 6-year follow-up of community death registers. The mortality risk of neurotic and psychotic depression was calculated after adjustment for demographic variables, physical illness, cognitive decline and functional disabilities.ResultsA total of 75% of men and 41% of women with psychotic depression had died at follow-up. Psychotic depression was associated with significant excess mortality in both men and women. Neurotic depression was associated with a 1.67-fold higher mortality risk in men only.ConclusionsIn the elderly, major depressive syndromes increase the risk of death in both men and women, but mild depression increases the risk of death only in men.