Mental health status and related factors in aged population: Urban health equity assessment and response tool (Urban- HEART) study in Tehran

Mental disorders are common in the elderly.The purpose of this study was to assess the general health status and its related factors among people ≥ 65 years in different districts of Tehran. This study has used data of the participants ≥ 65 years old in urban health equity and response tool (Urban-HEART) study. Finally the data of 1313 elderly were considered for this study. Variables included demographic characteristics (gender, age, education level, family size, marital status and employment status) and mental health using the Persian GHQ -28 questionnaire (domains: somatic, depression, insomnia and anxiety) and quality of life using the SF12. The mean age of participants was 73.68 (5.91) (women=627 and men=686). GHQ-28 median of scores the participants were 24.00 (22.00)[20.00 (27.00) in women and 19.00 (19.00) in men (P<0.01)].Based on GHQ-28 cut-point 23, 50.2%of the participants had mental health problems, [61.2% women and 40.1% men (P<0.01)].The residents of third municipality districts had the best mental health (26.3% of men and 38.5% of women had mental health problems) and the aged of 20th municipality district had the worst health status (65.7% of males and 84.2% of women had mental health problems).In multivariable logistic regression model, for each year of increment age, 2.9% chance of mental health problems increased (P<0.01). With increasing level of education, mental health status was improved (P trend < 0.01). The relationship between family size and mental health was not significant (P =0.06). Mental health status of the elderly in Tehran was worse than the many other countries. The elderly lived in 20th municipal district, had the worst and the dwellers in the 3th district had the best mental health status.