Article Text
Abstract
Background Major depression represents a great cause of disease burden worldwide. Further, the proportion of Canadian citizens aged 65 years of age and older is rapidly growing. Despite this, there is a lack of longitudinal data on risk factors for a major depressive episode in seniors. While current literature has established social support as an important factor in the development and prevention of a major depressive episode, comprehensive measures of social support are rarely employed. A longitudinal approach to examining the relationship between depression and comprehensive social support tools has yet to be conducted in Canada.
Methods This study will use 12 year population-based longitudinal data from the NationalPopulation Health Survey, collected by Statistics Canada The survey will be restricted to individuals aged 65 years of age and older. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the sample will be presented. The 2-year and 10-year incidence proportions of major depression in seniors will be estimated. The cross-sectional and longitudinal association between social support and a major depressive episode will be examined using multivariate logistic regression.
Results This study will meet the thesis requirements for a Master's of Epidemiology. At the time of abstract writing, no results are available for abstract inclusion.Results and conclusions will be available and will be presented at the World Congress of Epidemiology conference in August 2011.