Prevalence of depression among Iranian elderly: A Systematic review and Meta-analysis

Depression is a common problem in old age that can endanger the health of an elderly person. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression

This study was performed using a systematic literature review and meta-analysis in April and May 2020. Six electronic databases and one search engines were searched and evaluated on the prevalence of depression in Iranian elderly until the end of May 2020. Heterogeneity of study was checked using I2 index and the possibility of publication bias by Egger test and Meta regression for assessment of variables suspected of heterogeneity at significance level of 0.05. Finally 30 empirical studies were reviewed using CMA.

Based on the random model, the prevalence of depression in Iranian elderly was 15% (95% confidence interval, 10.8% - 20.5%). The highest prevalence was recorded in Koram Abad in 2013, 82.1% (95% CI: 71.5%-89.1%) and the lowest prevalence was 0.03 %( 95% CI: 0.01%-1.9%) in Khoy in 2016. There was a significant relationship between sample size, year and prevalence of depression (P <0.05).

The prevalence of depression occurs in more than one tenth of Iranian elderly. Increasing the prevalence of depression in the elderly in the country, in addition to imposing costs, also has negative consequences for patients. Therefore, health policy makers and managers must take serious actions to reduce it.