Abstract

Objective

The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa.

Method

We have searched CINAHIL, PubMed, SCOPUS and Psych-INFO databases to identify important observational studies which reported the prevalence of depression among the elderly. We used a random-effects model due to reported heterogeneity among the included studies. The publication bias was examined by using Egger’s test, visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots and adjusted using Duval and Tweedie’s Trim and Fill analysis. We have meta-analysed the pooled estimates of depression from primary studies by adjusting for publication bias. We used Cochran’s Q and the I²-tests to measure heterogeneity across the studies.

Result

A total of 23 studies conducted in Africa were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis, representing a total of 14, 350 elderly population. The pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa was estimated to be 26.3% (95% CI; 22.2, 30.4%). The estimated pooled prevalence of depression among the elderly in Africa was much higher (43.1%) in studies that used a screening tool to measure depression when compared to studies that used a diagnostic tool (24.2%). Also, the prevalence of depression among female elderly participant (43.10%) was higher than that of male elderly participant (30.90%).

Conclusion

One in five elderly population in Africa were depressed, which poses serious health concerns. Timely and targeted screening of depression among the elderly and evidence-based interventions were highly recommended.

中文翻译：

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估计非洲老年人抑郁症患病率：系统评价和荟萃分析

摘要

客观的

目前的系统评价和荟萃分析旨在估计非洲老年人抑郁症的综合患病率。

方法

我们搜索了 CINAHIL、PubMed、SCOPUS 和 Psych-INFO 数据库，以确定报告老年人抑郁症患病率的重要观察性研究。由于纳入研究报告的异质性，我们使用了随机效应模型。发表偏倚通过使用 Egger 检验、漏斗图中对称性的目测检查并使用 Duval 和 Tweedie 的修剪和填充分析进行调整。我们通过调整发表偏倚对来自主要研究的抑郁症的汇总估计进行了荟萃分析。我们使用 Cochran 的 Q 和 I ²检验来衡量研究的异质性。

结果

本次系统评价和荟萃分析共纳入了在非洲进行的 23 项研究，共代表 14、350 名老年人口。非洲老年人抑郁症的综合患病率估计为 26.3%（95% CI；22.2, 30.4%）。与使用诊断工具的研究（24.2%）相比，在使用筛查工具测量抑郁症的研究中，非洲老年人的抑郁症综合患病率估计要高得多（43.1%）。此外，女性老年参与者的抑郁症患病率（43.10%）高于男性老年参与者（30.90%）。

结论

非洲五分之一的老年人患有抑郁症，这引起了严重的健康问题。强烈建议及时和有针对性地筛查老年人的抑郁症并采取循证干预措施。