Depressed Elderly Have Worst Quality of Life
December 3, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Treating depression in the elderly may have a greater impact on improving their overall health than treating other chronic illnesses including diabetes, chronic pain, and cancer, according to a new study.
Researcher Polly Hitchcock Noel, Ph.D., of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, and colleagues studied patients, aged 60 and older, from eight diverse health care organizations.
The study focused on elderly patients suffering from severe depression who also had on average 3.8 chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, cancer, chronic pain, diabetes, and hypertension.
Results show the severity of depression had a greater impact on three of four areas that determined quality of life than the other chronic medical conditions. The areas researchers used to assess quality of life included mental function status, disability, and general quality of life.
Authors conclude, "Recognition and treatment of depression has the potential to improve functioning and quality of life in spite of the presence of other medical comorbitities."
SOURCE: Annals of Family Medicine, 2004;2:555-562
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