Fatores associados a sintomas depressivos em idosas frequentadoras de centros de convivência em Cuiabá-MT

Abstract

Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon that has intensified in recent decades. In Brazil, this process follows the same trend observed on the global stage. Spaces such as Centers for the Elderly play a fundamental role in promoting an active life for this population, as they provide support and encourage social interaction. Even so, elderly people who attend community centers are vulnerable to developing depressive symptoms. These symptoms are frequent in this age group and impact quality of life. This study aimed to analyze sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with depressive symptoms in elderly women. This is a cross-sectional study that analyzed data from 360 elderly women ≥ 60 years of age who attended community centers in Cuiabá between 2019 and 2020. Data was collected by interview using a structured questionnaire. The presence of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), with a cut-off point being adopted. The independent variables were: age, skin color, who they live with, economic class, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, number of meals, and consumption of healthy and unhealthy food markers. The chi-square test was used to estimate associations. Student‘s t-test was used to compare the mean consumption of healthy and unhealthy food markers, according to the presence of depressive symptoms. The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (opinion no. 3.598.400). The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the participants was 26.9 percent, and was higher among elderly women aged <70 years, who belonged to economic classes C, D and E, who smoked and among those who consumed <4 meals a day. There was no significant difference in the consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods between participants with and without depressive symptoms. It is concluded that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was high among the elderly women assessed, associated with sociodemographic and lifestyle variables among the elderly, and there was no difference between the mean consumption of healthy and unhealthy food markers.