Prevalence of Depression and Suicidal Thoughts in Thai Older Adults Attending a Geriatric Clinic during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence of depression and suicidal thoughts, and their associated factors, among Thai older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted between June 20 and July 25, 2021, targeting patients aged 60 years and older who attended a tertiary-care geriatric clinic at Ramathibodi Hospital within the past two years. The Thai version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression levels, with the ninth item specifically evaluating suicidal risk. Demographic and clinical data were collected through structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, multiple linear regression, and ordered logistic regression models. Results: Out of 283 individuals, 271 with complete data were included in the analysis. The participants median age was 73 years and 71.6% were female. The prevalence of depression was 14.1%, with 11.9% experiencing mild depression and 2.2% moderate depression. No participants had severe depression. Suicidal thoughts were reported by 1.5% of the participants. Linear regression analysis showed that a higher number of hospitalizations (B=0.75, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.3, p=0.010) and a history of musculoskeletal disease (B=0.81, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.4, p=0.006) were associated with higher PHQ-9 scores. Consistently, logistic regression indicated that hospitalizations (OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.23 to 6.87, p=0.015) and musculoskeletal disease (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.14 to 10.0, p=0.028) were significant predictors of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing depression and suicidal risk has emerged as a critical clinical concern, particularly among older adults. Clinicians must prioritize mental health care for older adults, with special attention to those with high rates of hospital admissions and musculoskeletal complaints.