@article {1180, title = {Prevalence, incidence, and persistence of major depressive symptoms in the Cardiovascular Health Study.}, journal = {Aging Ment Health}, volume = {14}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Mar}, pages = {168-76}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To explore the association of major depressive symptoms with advancing age, sex, and self-rated health among older adults.

DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 10 years of annual assessments in a longitudinal cohort of 5888 Medicare recipients in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Self-rated health was assessed with a single question, and subjects categorized as healthy or sick. Major depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale, with subjects categorized as nondepressed (score < 10) or depressed (> or =10). Age-, sex-, and health-specific prevalence of depression and the probabilities of transition between depressed and nondepressed states were estimated.

RESULTS: The prevalence of a major depressive state was higher in women, and increased with advancing age. The probability of becoming depressed increased with advancing age among the healthy but not the sick. Women showed a greater probability than men of becoming depressed, regardless of health status. Major depressive symptoms persisted over one-year intervals in about 60\% of the healthy and 75\% of the sick, with little difference between men and women.

IMPLICATIONS: Clinically significant depressive symptoms occur commonly in older adults, especially women, increase with advancing age, are associated with poor self-rated health, and are largely intransigent. In order to limit the deleterious consequences of depression among older adults, increased attention to prevention, screening, and treatment is warranted. A self-rated health item could be used in clinical settings to refine the prognosis of late-life depression.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cohort Studies, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality Assessment, Prevalence, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Quality of Life, Sex Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607860903046537}, author = {Thielke, Stephen M and Diehr, Paula and Unutzer, Jurgen} } @article {1401, title = {Persistence and remission of musculoskeletal pain in community-dwelling older adults: results from the cardiovascular health study.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {60}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Aug}, pages = {1393-400}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To characterize longitudinal patterns of musculoskeletal pain in a community sample of older adults over a 6-year period and to identify factors associated with persistence of pain.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the Cardiovascular Health Study.

SETTING: Community-based cohort drawn from four U.S. counties.

PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand ninety-three men and women aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Over a 6-year period, pain was assessed each year using a single question about the presence of pain in any bones or joints during the last year. If affirmative, participants were queried about pain in seven locations (hands, shoulders, neck, back, hips, knees, feet). Participants were categorized according to the percentage of time that pain was present and according to the intermittent or chronic pattern of pain. Factors associated with persistent pain during five remaining years of the study were identified.

RESULTS: Over 6 years, 32\% of participants reported pain for three or more consecutive years, and 32\% reported pain intermittently. Of those who reported pain the first year, 54\% were pain free at least once during the follow-up period. Most of the pain at specific body locations was intermittent. Factors associated with remission of pain over 5 years included older age, male sex, better self-rated health, not being obese, taking fewer medications, and having fewer depressive symptoms. Approximately half of those with pain reported fewer pain locations the following year.

CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain in older adults, despite high prevalence, is often intermittent. The findings refute the notion that pain is an inevitable, unremitting, or progressive consequence of aging.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Male, Musculoskeletal Pain, Remission Induction, Residence Characteristics}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04082.x}, author = {Thielke, Stephen M and Whitson, Heather and Diehr, Paula and O{\textquoteright}Hare, Ann and Kearney, Patricia M and Chaudhry, Sarwat I and Zakai, Neil A and Kim, Dae and Sekaran, Nishant and Sale, Joanna E M and Arnold, Alice M and Chaves, Paulo and Newman, Anne} }