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Prevalence and predictors of depression in elderly
Canadians: The Canadian Study of Health and Aging -
View Abstract
Truls
Østbye, Betsy Kristjansson, Gerry Hill, Stephen C Newman,
Rebecca N Brouwer and Ian McDowell
Measurement issues related to the evaluation and
monitoring of major depression prevalence in Canada -
View Abstract
Scott B
Patten, Jian Li Wang, Cynthia A Beck and Colleen J Maxwell
A descriptive analysis of Canadian youth treated in
emergency departments for work-related injuries - View Abstract
Tammy Lipskie and F
Curtis Breslin
Acceptability of micronutrient sprinkles: A new
food-based approach for delivering iron to First Nations and Inuit
children in Northern Canada - View Abstract
Anna Christofides,
Claudia Schauer, Waseem Sharieff and Stanley H Zlotkin
Chronic Diseases in Canada (CDIC) is a quarterly scientific journal focusing on current evidence relevant to the control and prevention of chronic (i.e., non-communicable) diseases and injuries in Canada. Since 1980 the journal has published a unique blend of peer-reviewed feature articles, by authors from the public and private sectors, which may include research from such fields as epidemiology, public/community health, biostatistics, the behavioural sciences and health services. Authors retain responsibility for the content of their papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the CDIC editorial committe, neither of Health Canada nor of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Authors: Truls Østbye, Betsy Kristjansson, Gerry Hill, Stephen C Newman, Rebecca N Brouwer and Ian McDowell
Abstract:
Depression in elderly Canadians is an
important but often unrecognized public health problem. Numerous
studies have examined depression in the general community, but
studies of depression in the elderly have generally been small and
limited. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) includes a
large and national representation of both the cognitively intact
and the cognitively impaired elderly. The current analyses of 2,341
participants from the CSHA who completed a clinical rating scale
for depression have two objectives: 1) to determine the prevalence
of minor and major depression and 2) to examine the importance of
several risk factors. The prevalences of major and minor depression
were 2.6 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively, and were higher for
females, specifically those in institutions, those who reported
that their health problems limited activities, and those with
chronic health conditions. Women were more likely to exhibit
depression (OR=3.5; 95% CI: 1.4-8.8) than men, and those with
dementia more likely to exhibit depression than those without
(OR=2.4; 95% CI: 0.9–3.1). Depression is a significant mental
health problem among elderly Canadians, particularly among women
and those with physical limitations. More attention should be paid
to the detection and treatment of depression in the elderly,
particularly among those most at risk.
Authors: Scott B Patten, Jian Li Wang, Cynthia A Beck and Colleen J Maxwell
Abstract:
Monitoring major depression
prevalence is important because of the substantial impact of this
condition on population health. Local or regional surveys using
cost-efficient methods (e.g. data collection by telephone
interview) may provide useful epidemiological data, as may the
inclusion of brief diagnostic modules for major depression in
general health surveys. In Canada, the Composite International
Diagnostic Interview Short Form for Major Depression (CIDI-SFMD)
has been widely employed for both purposes. The recent Canadian
Community Health Survey 1.2 (2002), which employed a more detailed
diagnostic interview (the World Mental Health 2000 CIDI), provides
a standard against which to evaluate the performance of the
CIDI-SFMD. A tendency to at times overestimate prevalence appears
to be a characteristic of the CIDI-SFMD, and it has produced a
broad range of prevalence estimates, suggesting a greater
vulnerability to study-specific or contextual factors. However, the
pattern of association of major depression with potential
demographic determinants is not consistent with the classical
“dilution” effect expected to occur with
non-differential misclassification bias.
Authors: Tammy Lipskie and F Curtis Breslin
Abstract:
Because labour laws and regulations
protect minors by preventing them from working, this population is
often excluded from labour data. However, work is common among
Canadian youth. Young teens, and especially pre-teens, have
informal employment arrangements such as odd jobs, yard work,
babysitting and deliveries. Work injuries occurring in these
informal employment arrangements are surprisingly frequent and not
usually captured by traditional occupational health and safety data
sources (e.g. workers' compensation claims). We analyzed data
from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program
(CHIRPP) and found 999 youths (5 to 17 years) who had suffered a
work-related injury between 1995 and 1998. They were concentrated
in two main areas: clerical/service and manual labour. Work-related
injuries increased with age. Approximately one third of the youth
experienced open wounds and 5.5 percent had animal bites.
Collisions with someone or something were common, as were falls.
Others or animals were frequently involved. For the majority of
cases, the direct cause of injury corresponds to one of ten
categories. Injuries and circumstances varied by occupation. Even
informal work arrangements (e.g. delivering newspapers) contained
hazards and these varied by workplace. The injuries of young
workers have implications for future research, prevention efforts,
health services policy and legislative and regulatory efforts.
Authors: Anna Christofides, Claudia Schauer, Waseem Sharieff and Stanley H Zlotkin
Abstract:
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a
significant public health problem among Canadian Aboriginal
children. The objectives of this study were to determine the
acceptability and safety of microencapsulated-iron sprinkles, a new
powdered form of iron packaged in a single-serving sachet for
prevention of IDA. A total of 102 non-anemic children aged 4 to 18
months from three communities were randomized to receive sprinkles
containing 30 mg Fe/day (N=49) or placebo (N=53) for six months. To
assess acceptability, adherence and side effects were monitored
bi-weekly. To assess safety, serum ferritin (SF) concentration and
anthropometry were measured at baseline and end. Mean adherence was
59.6 ± 27.7 percent. There were no differences in adherence,
SF, anthropometric status or side effects between groups. Although
there were no differences in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and
anemia prevalence from baseline to end and between groups, the Hb
curve shifted to the right (increased) for the sprinkles group and
to the left (decreased) for the placebo group. Sprinkles may
provide a safe and acceptable option to the current standard of
care (i.e. ferrous sulphate drops) for the provision of iron in
Canadian Aboriginal populations.