Trajectory classes of depressive symptoms in a community sample of older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in older community residents. METHOD: Depressive symptomatology, based on a modified Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, was obtained at years 0, 3, 6, and 10, in the Duke Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (n = 4162). Generalized growth mixture models identified the latent class trajectories present. Baseline demographic, health, and social characteristics distinguishing the classes were identified using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Four latent class trajectories were identified. Class 1 - stable low depressive symptomatology (76.6% of the sample); class 2 - initially low depressive symptomatology, increasing to the subsyndromal level (10.0%); class 3 - stable high depressive symptomatology (5.4%); class 4 - high depressive symptomatology improving over 6 years before reverting somewhat (8.0%). Class 1 was younger, male gender, with better education, health, and social resources, in contrast to class 3. Class 2 had poorer cognitive functioning and higher death rate. Class 4 had better health and social resources. CONCLUSION: Reduction in high depressive symptomatology is associated with more education, better health, fewer stressful events, and a larger social network. Increasing depressive symptomatology is accompanied by poorer physical and cognitive health, more stressful life events, and greater risk of death.

Women's interest in chemoprevention for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Chemoprevention is the use of pharmacologic or natural agents to inhibit the development of cancer. Tamoxifen citrate is the only approved chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. We sought to determine whether women are interested in taking a drug to prevent breast cancer and to assess the relationship between objective and subjective breast cancer risk and interest in chemoprevention. METHODS: We conducted telephone interviews (November 3, 1997, to May 6, 1998) among a community sample of women aged 40 to 45 and 50 to 55 years enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a tailored mammography decision aid. Objective breast cancer risk was measured using the 5-year Gail score. Subjective breast cancer risk was measured using perceptions of absolute risk, perceptions of comparative risk, and worry about getting breast cancer. At 12-month follow-up (November 2, 1998, to July 20, 1999), we measured interest in taking a drug to prevent breast cancer. RESULTS: Among the 1273 women surveyed, 23% were interested in taking a drug to prevent breast cancer; 8% were potentially eligible for tamoxifen therapy (5-year Gail score > or = 1.66%). Eligibility for chemoprevention, based on the 5-year Gail score, was not associated with interest in taking a drug to prevent breast cancer. Women who were worried about breast cancer were 3 times more likely to be interested in taking a drug to prevent breast cancer than those who were not worried. CONCLUSION: Women's interest in chemoprevention might arise more from worries about getting breast cancer than from their objective risk factors.

The effect of major depression on functional status in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of major depression on reported functional status in a group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). SETTING: An inpatient cardiology service. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred thirty-five inpatients with coronary artery disease who were free of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and other primary neurological illnesses. MEASUREMENTS: Duke Depression Evaluation Schedule, a structured psychiatric interview which included the Diagnostic Interview Schedule depression subscale, the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, and two scales for measuring instrumental and self-maintenance activities of daily living. RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects met DSM-IV criteria for major depression. Compared with subjects without major depression, depressed subjects were more than twice as likely to report a self-maintenance ADL deficit and were significantly more likely to report an IADL deficit than were nondepressed subjects (93 vs 71%). In regression models, female gender, older age, greater medical illness severity, and presence of major depression were significant predictors of self-maintenance ADL disability; and female gender, older age, greater medical severity, and presence of major depression significantly predicted greater IADL impairment. CONCLUSION: The presence of major depression was associated with functional disability in patients with CAD. Further research is needed to clarify whether antidepressant treatment significantly impacts both affective symptoms and functional status in patients with coronary heart disease.

The reliability, validity, and stability of a measure of physical activity in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability, validity, and stability of an accelerometer-based monitor of physical activity in an elderly population. DESIGN: Six studies were conducted to assess the Tritrac, a newly available accelerometer capable of storing three-dimensional activity data collected in minute epochs. After initial bench testing, the waist-worn devices were assessed for test-retest reliability during sitting and treadmill walking at 1mph and 2mph. Validity testing examined the Tritrac's ability to discriminate between different levels of physical activity and also compared the Tritrac with an established wrist-worn acclerometer, the Actigraph. Stability of the measure was examined over a period of 3 to 7 days, and in a subset of subjects this measurement was performed for a second week. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Residents of a VA Nursing Home (n = 40; mean age = 76), participants in an in-home nonaerobic exercise program (n = 36; mean age = 77), and community participants in an aerobic exercise program (n = 10; mean age = 71). RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for both the bench testing and test-retest reliability were .97. The device discriminated among subjects independently categorized as sedentary, moderately active, or active (F = 49.4, p = .0001) and between specific activities of varying intensity (F = 114.5, p = .0001). Tritrac and Actigraph measurement comparison showed a correlation of r = .77, p = .0001. Stability of the measure was demonstrated by ICCs = .81 and .78 for mean activity values and proportion of time spent in sedentary activity, respectively. No significant differences were observed when comparing activity measured for two separate weeks. CONCLUSION: The Tritrac is a reliable and valid instrument producing activity measurement that was stable over time in the elderly population we studied. During our longitudinal testing, 20% of the subjects did not comply with wearing the device; this noncompliance issue must be considered in any use of the Tritrac.

Psychometric evaluation of 2 comprehensive condition-specific quality of life instruments for women with pelvic floor disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ). METHODS: The PFDI and PFIQ are based on the structure and content of two previously validated questionnaires (the Urinary Distress Inventory [UDI] and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire [IIQ]) and have additional questions regarding pelvic organ prolapse and colorectal dysfunction. The PFDI assesses symptom distress in women with pelvic floor disorders and has 3 scales: UDI (28 items), Colorectal-anal Distress Inventory (17 items), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (16 items). The PFIQ assesses life impact and also has 3 scales: IIQ, Colorectal-anal Impact Questionnaire, and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Impact Questionnaire (31 items each). One hundred women with pelvic floor symptoms were enrolled and completed both the PFDI and PFIQ at baseline and again 1 week later. Patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation that included a structured history, Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantitation, and a 1-week prospective bowel/bladder diary. Patients with urinary incontinence and stage III or IV pelvic organ prolapse also had a urodynamic evaluation. RESULTS: Each scale of the PFDI and PFIQ proved to be internally consistent (alphas: PFDI.82-.89; PFIQ.96-.97) and reproducible (interclass correlations: PFDI.86-.87; PFIQ.77-.92). Both the UDI and the IIQ significantly correlated with the number of urinary incontinence episodes per week (rho =.26, P <.05; rho =.46, P <.0001, respectively) and the number of pads used per week (rho =.26, P <.05; rho =.40, P <.0001, respectively). The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory and the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Impact Questionnaire significantly correlated with the stage of prolapse (rho =.32 and rho =.33, P <.01 each), and the Colorectal-anal Distress Inventory and Colorectal-anal Impact Questionnaire significantly correlated with the number of fecal incontinence episodes per month (rho =.49, P <.0001 and rho =.30, P <.01) and a diagnosis of defecatory dysfunction (rho =.47, P <.0001 and rho =.29, P <.01). The total time taken to complete both instruments averaged 23 minutes (range, 9-55). CONCLUSION: The PFDI and the PFIQ are reliable, valid, condition-specific quality of life instruments for women with pelvic floor disorders.

Depressive symptoms, menopausal status, and climacteric symptoms in women at midlife.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have found increased rates of depression in women aged 45 to 54 years, but the factors that influence these rates are not understood. It was assessed whether higher rates of depressive symptoms were associated with menopausal status, climacteric symptoms, and use of hormone replacement therapy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Community sample. METHODS: Data are from 581 women ages 45 to 54 years who were interviewed by telephone between October 1998 and February 1999. MEASURES: Depression was measured with the abbreviated CES-D, a depressive symptoms screening measure. Women's reported perception of menopausal stage, frequency of periods in the preceding 12 months, and history of oophorectomy were used to classify their menopausal status into four categories: (1) no indication of menopause; (2) close to menopause; (3) had begun menopause; and (4) had completed menopause. RESULTS: There were 168 women (28.9%) who reported a high level (> or = 10) of depressive symptoms when the abbreviated CES-D was used. In a logistic-regression analysis, significant factors associated with increased depressive symptoms included physical inactivity, inadequate income, use of estrogen/progesterone combination, and presence of climacteric symptoms (trouble sleeping, mood swings, or memory problems). Menopausal status was not associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of women age 45 to 54 years, climacteric symptoms but not menopausal status were associated with higher rates of depressive symptoms.