Depression risk assessment among elderly cancer patients

Aim
The aim of the study was to determine the risk of depression in elderly patients with cancer.

Material and methods
The research was carried out in a group of 110 elderly patients with neoplastic disease. Among the respondents, 54.55% were men. Most respondents were aged 66-74 (46.00%). The vast majority of seniors were married (65.46%). The largest percentage of the respondents had higher education (33.60%). As many as 81.00% of seniors lived with their families. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used as a research tool.

Results
Based on the assessment of patients using the GDS scale, it was found that as many as 66.50% of the respondents did not show symptoms of depression. Mild depression was found in 25.50% of respondents, and the group of 8.00% had symptoms of severe depression. 52.00% of women did not show symptoms of depression and at 6.00 p.m. they had symptoms of severe depression. Men were in better condition, as many as 78.33% did not show symptoms of depression and none of them showed symptoms of severe depression. The patients in the oldest age group (75-88 years old) showed the highest risk of depression, 15.38% had symptoms of severe depression.

Conclusions
In the examined group of elderly cancer patients, a relatively low risk of depressive symptoms was found. The sex of the respondents, marital status, level of education and the fact who the respondents live with influenced the risk of depression. The type of neoplastic disease significantly differentiated the risk of depression in the studied group of seniors.