Mental health and quality of life in older adults in southern Peru: A cross-sectional study

Problem considered: Mental health disorders in older adults significantly impair quality of life; however, data from urban primary care in Peru is scarce.Therefore, our objective was to analyze mental health and its association with quality of life in older adults in a city in southern Peru. Methods:A cross-sectional study evaluated 500 older adults randomly selected from the Ciudad Nueva Health Center in Tacna.Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L utility index and EQ-VAS) were measured.Sociodemographic and clinical covariates were recorded.Adjusted coefficients and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multiple linear regression. Results:Positive screen for depression (PHQ-9 10) affected 51% and positive screen for anxiety (GAD-7 10) affected 51.4%.The mean EQ-5D-5L utility index was 0.5 0.30 and the mean EQ-VAS score was 65.8 17.9.In the adjusted models, the presence positive screen for depression was associated with a reduction in quality of life, reflected by a decrease in the EQ-5D-5L utility index (adjusted = -0.28;95% CI: -0.36 to -0.20).Additionally, both being retired and receiving a salary or wage were independently associated with reductions in the EQ-5D-5L utility index (adjusted = -0.11;95% CI: -0.20 to -0.02 and adjusted = -0.11;95% CI: -0.20 to -0.02, respectively). Conclusion:High depression rates were associated with markedly lower quality of life in this Peruvian geriatric cohort, underscoring the need for integrated mental health screening and interventions.