Patterns and correlates of depression in hospitalized older adults

Depression is often associated with illness or injury requiring acute hospitalization, particularly in older adults. We sought to determine patterns of change in depressive symptoms in older adults from hospitalization to 3 months post discharge and to examine factors associated with depressive symptoms 3 months after discharge. The study included 197 patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized with an acute medical illness. Sociodemographic and clinical measures, including depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Study—Depression (CES-D) scale, were collected during the inpatient stay and at 3 months post discharge. Mean age was 75.3 ± 7.5 (±S.D.) years, 59% of the participants were female, 61% unmarried, and 72% had a high school education or more. High depressive symptoms (i.e., CES-D ≥ 16) were reported in 37% at admission. Of the 8% depressed at follow-up, 81% were also depressed at admission; 19% were new cases of depression. Depressive symptoms 3 months post-hospitalization were significantly associated with follow-up daily living skills (p = 0.001) and social support (p < 0.0001). Patients with persistent depressive symptoms make up the majority of post-hospitalization depression cases. Post-hospitalization social support and daily living skills appear to be important in the management of follow-up depressive symptoms.