✦ LIBER ✦

Previous stroke but not vascular risk factors are associated with depression in a cognitively impaired older Korean population

✍ Scribed by Jae-Min Kim; Robert Stewart; Il-Seon Shin; Jin-Sang Yoon

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
Year: 2002
Tongue: English
Weight: 69 KB
Volume: 17
Category: Article
ISSN: 0885-6230
DOI: 10.1002/gps.621

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Depression is frequently associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Cerebrovascular disease may be an important aetiological factor for depression in the context of cognitive impairment but has received little investigation in population‐based research.

Objectives

To investigate the association between vascular disease/risk and depression in an older Korean population with cognitive impairment.

Methods

The sample consisted of 341 persons, drawn from a community study in Kwangju, South Korea, all aged 65 or over and with scores of 24 or below on the Korean version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), vascular disease/risk (interview, examination and blood tests), and disablement were ascertained.

Results

Previous stroke was associated with depression (Odds Ratio 3.4, 95% Confidence Intervals 1.6–7.4). This association was weaker in the presence of more severe cognitive impairment and higher levels of dependency. No associations were found between depression and any other measures of vascular risk.