Self-Rated Health of the Chronic Disease Patients with Depression in Aged over 65

Lee, Myeong Jin; Sohn, Hae Sook

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To compare the self-rated health in chronic disease patients with depression, chronic disease patients, and depression patients, and to observe the related factors to the self-rated health of people age 65 and older.
METHODS
The subjects were 2,549 elderly people, over 65 years old in Busan Metropolitan City who participated in 2009 community health survey. Association between self-rated health and general characteristics, life style and disease status were observed. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analysis of complex sample was done with SAS (ver. 9.2), using chi2-test and multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS
Among total 2,549, there were 740 normal people (29.8%), 50 people with depression (1.8%), 1,495 people with other chronic diseases (58.2%), and 264 people with the comobidity of depression and other chronic diseases (10.1%). Good self-related health accounted for 20.3% for the whole, 33.4% for normal, 16.7% for chronic disease, 16.1% for depression, and 3.2% for chronic diseases with depression. Disease, gender, education, income, alcohol drinking, regular exercise and regular walking were independent factors associated with the good self-related health.
CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that when the chronic disease control program for the elderly is developed, depression care should be considered along with the program. This program should be given priority to the women and the vulnerable classes and should also be related to the regular walking.