Varothai, Narittaya

Aim Depression is a major disease burden in Thailand. In rural areas, young adults will leave home to work in cities, and older adults are left behind. Loneliness and comorbidities can lead to depression in older adults. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors for geriatric depression. Methods A cross‐sectional study was carried out. Questionnaires including the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale and family relationship were obtained by healthcare professions by face‐to‐face interviews of 584 older people aged ≥60 years in Ban Nayao community, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Geriatric depression can be defined as depressive syndromes that arise in adults aged ≥60 years. We excluded those who had visual or auditory disabilities or did not pass the Thai Mini‐Mental Status Examination. The prevalence and associated factors for geriatric depression were obtained. Associated factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 433 older people were eligible. The prevalence of geriatric depression was 18.5%. Of the participants, 54.1% lived in an imbalanced family type. Multivariate analysis showed the significance for female sex (adjusted OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.54–7.49, P = 0.01), illiteracy (adjusted OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.19–6.17, P ‐value 0.04), current smoker (adjusted OR 4.25, 95% CI 2.12–10.18, P = 0.009) and imbalanced family type (low attachment, low cooperation and poor alignment between each member; adjusted OR 4.52, 95% CI 2.14–7.86, P < 0.001) as risk factors for depression. Conclusions The prevalence of geriatric depression in rural Thailand is high. Imbalanced family type is an important risk factor for geriatric depression in the rural community. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 1248–1253 .

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to assess the nationwide trends in optimal diabetic care and complications of elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients over a 6‐year period in Thailand.MethodsT2DM patients aged 65 years or older who received medical care at public hospitals in Thailand from 2010 to 2015 were included. The optimal T2DM care in elderly patients was defined as (1) blood pressure (BP) < 140/90, (2) hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) < 7%, (3) low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) < 100 mg/dL, (4) use of antiplatelet medications, and (5) use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in hypertensive patients. T2DM treatment‐related complications included hospital admissions due to dysglycemia.ResultsA total of 54 295 elderly T2DM patients were enrolled in this study. From 2010 to 2015, there was an increasing trend in the achievement of BP control and use of antiplatelet medications (P for trend < 0.01), whereas there was a decreasing trend in the achievement of HbA1c and LDL‐C control among elderly T2DM patients (P for trend < 0.001). There was an increasing trend in the use of ACEI/ARB among elderly T2DM patients with hypertension (P for trend < 0.001). Hospital admissions due to dysglycemia decreased over the study period (P for trend < 0.001).ConclusionThere has been a trend change for diabetic care among elderly T2DM patients in Thailand. Further studies are needed to assess the impact on patient outcomes.

AbstractBackgroundThe reported risk of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia is controversial.AimThe objective of this meta‐analysis was to assess the association between depression and hypomagnesaemia.MethodsA literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database and clinicaltrials.gov from inception through October 2014. Studies that reported odds ratios, relative risks or hazard ratios comparing the risk of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia were included. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random‐effect, generic inverse variance method.ResultsSix observational studies (three cohort studies, two cross‐sectional studies and a case–control study) with a total of 19 137 patients were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled RR of depression in patients with hypomagnesaemia was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.01–1.79, I2 = 33%). The association between depression and hypomagnesaemia was marginally insignificant after the sensitivity analysis including only cohort and case–control studies, with a pooled RR of 1.38 (95% CI, 0.92–2.07, I2 = 24%).ConclusionOur study demonstrates a potential association between hypomagnesaemia and depression. Further studies assessing the benefits of treatment of hypomagnesaemia in patients with depression are needed.