Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Entre 2003 et 2005, un programme de dépistage des maladies liées à l’amiante a été mis en place dans quatre régions françaises, constituant ensuite la cohorte ARDCO (Asbesto related Diseases Cohort). La cohorte ARDCO a été suivie entre 2007-2009 (étude ARDCO I) et entre 2011-2012 (étude ARDCO II). Cette thèse a été réalisée dans le cadre de l’étude ARDCO II et trois études ont été réalisées. Dans notre population d’étude, nous avons montré une amélioration de certaines connaissances sur le risque lié à l’amiante et au tabac par le biais d’une notice d’information. La prévalence globale des symptômes d’anxiété probable et de dépression probable a été respectivement estimée à 19,7% (n=435) et 9,9% (n=219). Les femmes présentaient significativement plus de symptômes anxieux et dépressifs que les hommes (respectivement 34,8% contre 19% et 18,5% contre 9,5%). Le risque de développer les symptômes anxieux et dépressifs était significativement associé à l’auto-évaluation de l’exposition à l’amiante, la perception du risque lié à l’amiante ainsi qu’à l’autoperception du risque de développer des pathologies liées à l’amiante. Une troisième étude a montré que les personnes présentant des symptômes d’anxiété probable ou de dépression probable utilisaient le plus souvent les stratégies de coping dites « maladaptatives » ; et que l’utilisation des stratégies de coping dépendait plus de la présence des symptômes anxieux ou dépressifs que de l’exposition à l’amiante. / A large-scale screening program for asbestos-related diseases was organised in four regions of France between October 2003 and December 2005. Asbestos Related Diseases Cohort was constituted and participants were followed up between 2007 and 2009 (ARDCO I study) and between 2011 and 2012 (ARDCO II study). This thesis was made from ARDCO II study and three studies have been conducted. Among the study participants, we found an improvement in knowledge about tobacco and asbestos-risk perception related to an information leaflet. The prevalence of symptoms of probable anxiety and depression was 19.7% (n=435) and 9.9% (n=219) respectively. Women had significantly more anxious and depressive symptoms than men (34.8 vs 19% and 18.5 vs 9.5, respectively). The risk of developing anxious and depressive symptoms was significantly associated to the intensity of asbestos-exposure self-evaluated and to the asbestos-risk perception. The participants with symptoms of probable anxiety or depression more frequently used “maladaptive” coping strategies and the use of the coping strategies depended specially of anxious and depressive symptoms rather than asbestos exposure.

Os objetivos do estudo foram: analisar a influência dos sintomas depressivos na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde percebida por mulheres na gestação de baixo risco e pós-parto e verificar os fatores socioeconômicos e obstétricos associados à qualidade de vida e aos sintomas depressivos. Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal, com inclusão de 313 gestantes matriculadas em 11 Unidades Básicas de Saúde da zona sul do Município de São Paulo, SP. As participantes foram seguidas em quatro etapas: 20ª, 28ª, 36ª semanas de gestação e 45 dias após o parto, com ± 2 semanas em cada etapa. A coleta dos dados foi de julho de 2008 a março de 2010. A amostra final das quatro etapas constou de 132 mulheres. Os dados sociodemográficos e obstétricos foram obtidos por meio de entrevista na primeira etapa, com exceção dos do pós-parto, que foram coletados na quarta etapa. Para avaliação dos sintomas depressivos, foi utilizada a Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) e para avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, o questionário Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (MOS-SF36), que foram autoaplicados nas quatro etapas. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa - Parecer nº 154/08-CEP/SMS. Os escores médios dos domínios do MOS-SF36 apresentaram declínio ao longo da gestação com recuperação no pós-parto, exceto Estado Geral de Saúde e Saúde Mental, com diferença significativa para Capacidade Funcional (p<0,000), Aspectos Físicos (p=0,001), Dor (p<0,001) e Vitalidade (p=0,002). A proporção de gestantes com sintomas depressivos variou nas quatro etapas, sendo de 29,5% na 20ª, 24,2% na 28ª, 24,5% na 36ª semanas de gestação e 33,6% com 45 dias de pós-parto. Houve correlação inversa significativa em todos os domínios do MOS-SF36 e a EPDS, com variação no coeficiente de Spearman de 0,234 a 0,785. Nas quatro etapas, os escores médios dos domínios mostraram diferenças significantes, na comparação entre gestantes sem e com sintomas depressivos, exceto Dor, na segunda etapa e Aspectos Físicos na quarta. Na regressão logística da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, os sintomas depressivos foram um fator de risco em todos os domínios, exceto Aspectos Físicos. Para os sintomas depressivos, as variáveis associadas foram situação conjugal, anos de estudo e número de consultas de pré-natal, como fatores de proteção e queixas como fator de risco. A presença dos sintomas depressivos na gestação e puerpério altera a percepção subjetiva da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em gestantes de baixo risco. / The aims of the present study were to analyze the influence of depressive symptoms on the health related quality of life (HRQOL) perceived by low risk pregnant women and at postpartum and verify the socioeconomic and obstetric factors associated with the quality of life and depressive symptoms. This is a longitudinal study and it was conducted with 313 pregnant women enrolled in 11 Basic Health Units of the southern area of São Paulo City, SP. The participants were followed up at their 20th, 28th, 36th weeks of gestation and 45 days postpartum, with ± 2 weeks in each periods. Data was collected from July 2008 to March 2010. The final sample of four periods consisted of 132 women. Sociodemographic and obstetric data was obtained by interviewing subjects in the first period and postpartum data in the fourth period. For the assessment of depressive symptoms, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used and to assess the health related quality of life (HRQOL), the questionnaire Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (MOS-SF36), which were self-administered in four stages. The study was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee nº 154/08-CEP/SMS. The mean scores of the domains of MOS-SF36 presented decline over the gestation with postpartum recovery, except in General (Health) and Mental Health, with a significant difference in Physical Functioning (p<0,000), Role Limitation due to Physical Problems (p=0,001), Bodily Pain (p<0,001) and Vitality (p=0,002). The proportion of pregnant women with depressive symptoms was 29.5% at 20th, 24.2% at 28th, 24.5% at 36th weeks of gestation and 33.6% at 45 days postpartum. There was a significant inverse correlation among all domains of the MOS-SF36 and the EPDS, with Spearman coefficients range of 0.234 to 0.785. At the four periods, the mean scores of the domains showed significant differences between pregnant subjects with or without depressive symptoms except Bodily Pain in the second period and Role Limitation due to Physical Problems in the fourth one. At HRQOL logistic regression the depressive symptoms were a risk factor in all domains, except Role Limitation due to Physical Problems. To depressive symptoms, the associated factors were marital status, years of education and the number of prenatal consultations as protective factors and complaints as a risk factor. The presence of depressive symptoms at pregnancy and postpartum changes the subjective perception of Health related quality of life in low risk pregnant women.

No description available.

Previous research into the accuracy of referrals for glaucoma has shown that a large number of referrals to the Hospital Eye Service are false positive. Research in areas of healthcare other than ophthalmology has shown that psychological distress can be caused by false positive referrals. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of referrals to the HES for all ocular pathologies, and also to quantify the proportion of these referrals that were false positive. Any commonality between false positive referrals was investigated. The psychological effect of being referred to the HES was also evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Both scales were validated in this population with Rasch analysis before use. A final aim was to develop an improvement to the present referral pathway in order to reduce numbers of false positive referrals. The accuracy of referrals to the HES appears to improve as clinicians become more experienced, and greater numbers of false positive referrals are generated by female clinicians. Optometrists refer patients with a wide range of ocular diseases and in most cases include both fundus observations and visual acuity measurements in their referrals. GPs mainly refer patients with anterior segment disorders, particularly lid lesions, based on direct observation and symptoms. Illegibility and missing clinical information reduce the quality of many optometric referrals. Patients referred to the HES experience raised levels of anxiety as measured by the STAI and raised levels of depression as measured by the HADS-Depression subscale. As a method of assessing psychological distress, the questionnaires HADS-T (all items), STAI-S (State subscale) and STAI-T (Trait subscale) show good discrimination between patients when administered to a population of new ophthalmic outpatients, despite all having a floor effect. Subsequently a referral refinement service was developed which reduced numbers of unnecessary referrals and reduced costs for the NHS.

Aims and Methods The overall aim was to evaluate methods of screening and assessment of distress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. Further, to evaluate effects of a psychosocial intervention and to explore changes of distress, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL during six months. Study I included 495 consecutive patients screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at their first visit to an Oncology Department. Half of the patients with &gt;7 on any of HADS subscales received standard care (SCG), and half received a psychosocial intervention (IG). To compare HADS with a thorough clinical assessment (CA), Study II included 171 identified patients representing both sexes, &lt;65/≥65 years, and curative/palliative treatment intention. Results Screening with HADS identified anxiety or/and depression symptoms in 36% of the 495 patients. Thirty-six (43%) of 84 IG patients attended CA, resulting in support for 20 (24%) of them. There were no differences between SC and IG during follow-up, anxiety and depression decreased and HRQoL increased, although anxiety was still present and HRQoL impaired at six months. The Distress Thermometer (DT) ≥4 (sensitivity 87%, specificity 73%) is valid for screening of distress; its ability to measure changes over time is comparable to HADS. Of 319 patients screened with &lt;8 on both HADS subscales, 196 (80%) were stable non-cases with HRQoL comparable to that of the general population and 49 (20%) patients were unstable non-cases, with deteriorated anxiety, depression, and HRQoL. &gt;4 on HADS subscales may be useful for early detection of unstable non-cases. In Study II, HADS identified 49 (34%) and the CA 71 (49%) patients as having distress, anxiety or depression. CA identified more men and more young patients with distress than HADS did. Conclusion Screening and assessment identifies patients with persistent symptoms and increases access to CA and support. The DT may be used routinely in oncology care. When HADS is used, healthcare professionals should be aware of psychosocial problems perceived by patients but not covered by HADS. Most patients identified with distress seem to have resources to manage problems without needing additional support. Patients screened as non-cases indicate no need for re-assessment.

Os objetivos do estudo foram: analisar a influência dos sintomas depressivos na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde percebida por mulheres na gestação de baixo risco e pós-parto e verificar os fatores socioeconômicos e obstétricos associados à qualidade de vida e aos sintomas depressivos. Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal, com inclusão de 313 gestantes matriculadas em 11 Unidades Básicas de Saúde da zona sul do Município de São Paulo, SP. As participantes foram seguidas em quatro etapas: 20ª, 28ª, 36ª semanas de gestação e 45 dias após o parto, com ± 2 semanas em cada etapa. A coleta dos dados foi de julho de 2008 a março de 2010. A amostra final das quatro etapas constou de 132 mulheres. Os dados sociodemográficos e obstétricos foram obtidos por meio de entrevista na primeira etapa, com exceção dos do pós-parto, que foram coletados na quarta etapa. Para avaliação dos sintomas depressivos, foi utilizada a Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) e para avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, o questionário Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (MOS-SF36), que foram autoaplicados nas quatro etapas. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa - Parecer nº 154/08-CEP/SMS. Os escores médios dos domínios do MOS-SF36 apresentaram declínio ao longo da gestação com recuperação no pós-parto, exceto Estado Geral de Saúde e Saúde Mental, com diferença significativa para Capacidade Funcional (p<0,000), Aspectos Físicos (p=0,001), Dor (p<0,001) e Vitalidade (p=0,002). A proporção de gestantes com sintomas depressivos variou nas quatro etapas, sendo de 29,5% na 20ª, 24,2% na 28ª, 24,5% na 36ª semanas de gestação e 33,6% com 45 dias de pós-parto. Houve correlação inversa significativa em todos os domínios do MOS-SF36 e a EPDS, com variação no coeficiente de Spearman de 0,234 a 0,785. Nas quatro etapas, os escores médios dos domínios mostraram diferenças significantes, na comparação entre gestantes sem e com sintomas depressivos, exceto Dor, na segunda etapa e Aspectos Físicos na quarta. Na regressão logística da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, os sintomas depressivos foram um fator de risco em todos os domínios, exceto Aspectos Físicos. Para os sintomas depressivos, as variáveis associadas foram situação conjugal, anos de estudo e número de consultas de pré-natal, como fatores de proteção e queixas como fator de risco. A presença dos sintomas depressivos na gestação e puerpério altera a percepção subjetiva da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em gestantes de baixo risco. / The aims of the present study were to analyze the influence of depressive symptoms on the health related quality of life (HRQOL) perceived by low risk pregnant women and at postpartum and verify the socioeconomic and obstetric factors associated with the quality of life and depressive symptoms. This is a longitudinal study and it was conducted with 313 pregnant women enrolled in 11 Basic Health Units of the southern area of São Paulo City, SP. The participants were followed up at their 20th, 28th, 36th weeks of gestation and 45 days postpartum, with ± 2 weeks in each periods. Data was collected from July 2008 to March 2010. The final sample of four periods consisted of 132 women. Sociodemographic and obstetric data was obtained by interviewing subjects in the first period and postpartum data in the fourth period. For the assessment of depressive symptoms, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used and to assess the health related quality of life (HRQOL), the questionnaire Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (MOS-SF36), which were self-administered in four stages. The study was approved by the Ethics in Research Committee nº 154/08-CEP/SMS. The mean scores of the domains of MOS-SF36 presented decline over the gestation with postpartum recovery, except in General (Health) and Mental Health, with a significant difference in Physical Functioning (p<0,000), Role Limitation due to Physical Problems (p=0,001), Bodily Pain (p<0,001) and Vitality (p=0,002). The proportion of pregnant women with depressive symptoms was 29.5% at 20th, 24.2% at 28th, 24.5% at 36th weeks of gestation and 33.6% at 45 days postpartum. There was a significant inverse correlation among all domains of the MOS-SF36 and the EPDS, with Spearman coefficients range of 0.234 to 0.785. At the four periods, the mean scores of the domains showed significant differences between pregnant subjects with or without depressive symptoms except Bodily Pain in the second period and Role Limitation due to Physical Problems in the fourth one. At HRQOL logistic regression the depressive symptoms were a risk factor in all domains, except Role Limitation due to Physical Problems. To depressive symptoms, the associated factors were marital status, years of education and the number of prenatal consultations as protective factors and complaints as a risk factor. The presence of depressive symptoms at pregnancy and postpartum changes the subjective perception of Health related quality of life in low risk pregnant women.

Cette étude avait pour objectif d'évaluer les qualités psychométriques de la version française du Center for Epidemiologie Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) auprès de personnes âgées francophones. L'échantillon comprenait 375 participants (106 hommes et 269 femmes), dont la moyenne d'âge était de 73,09 ans (ET = 6,82). La valeur de la consistance interne du CES-D a été de 0,86. La validité concomitante entre le CES-D et l'Inventaire de Dépression de Beck (IDB) a été de 0,68 et celle entre le CES-D et l'Échelle de Dépression Gériatrique (EDG) a été de 0,62 (p < 0,0001). L'analyse factorielle du CES-D a permis d'extraire 3 facteurs interprétables, expliquant 51,8% de la variance: trouble de l'humeur, affect positif et sentiment de solitude. La fidélité testretest du CES-D a été de 0,61 (p < 0,01) pour un intervalle de 3 semaines. Dans l'ensemble, les résultats obtenus ont montré que les qualités métriques du CES-D étaient acceptables, mais que le CES-D ne devrait pas être l'instrument de choix pour l'évaluation des symptômes dépressifs auprès de ce type de population. Il faut donc être prudent dans la généralisation des résultats étant donné les limites qu'imposent le CES-D lui-même ainsi que celles relatives à la composition et à la taille restreinte de l'échantillon.

Previous research into the accuracy of referrals for glaucoma has shown that a large number of referrals to the Hospital Eye Service are false positive. Research in areas of healthcare other than ophthalmology has shown that psychological distress can be caused by false positive referrals. The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of referrals to the HES for all ocular pathologies, and also to quantify the proportion of these referrals that were false positive. Any commonality between false positive referrals was investigated. The psychological effect of being referred to the HES was also evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Both scales were validated in this population with Rasch analysis before use. A final aim was to develop an improvement to the present referral pathway in order to reduce numbers of false positive referrals. The accuracy of referrals to the HES appears to improve as clinicians become more experienced, and greater numbers of false positive referrals are generated by female clinicians. Optometrists refer patients with a wide range of ocular diseases and in most cases include both fundus observations and visual acuity measurements in their referrals. GPs mainly refer patients with anterior segment disorders, particularly lid lesions, based on direct observation and symptoms. Illegibility and missing clinical information reduce the quality of many optometric referrals. Patients referred to the HES experience raised levels of anxiety as measured by the STAI and raised levels of depression as measured by the HADS-Depression subscale. As a method of assessing psychological distress, the questionnaires HADS-T (all items), STAI-S (State subscale) and STAI-T (Trait subscale) show good discrimination between patients when administered to a population of new ophthalmic outpatients, despite all having a floor effect. Subsequently a referral refinement service was developed which reduced numbers of unnecessary referrals and reduced costs for the NHS.

Background The prevalence and incidence of stroke are known to increase with age, which, combined with demographic change, means that very old patients with stroke are a growing patient group. Risk factors for incident stroke among very old people have not been widely investigated. The impact of depression on mortality in very old people who have had a stroke also remains unclear.  The aim of this thesis was to investigate the risk factors for incident stroke, the epidemiology of stroke and depression, and the consequences of having had a stroke regarding the risk of depression and mortality among very old people. Methods A randomly selected half of 85-, all 90-, and all ≥95-year-olds in certain municipalities in Västerbotten County, Sweden, and Pohjanmaa County, Finland were targeted in a population-based cohort study from 2000-2012. The 65-, 70-, 75-, and 80-year-olds in all the rural and random samples from the urban municipalities in the same counties were furthermore targeted in a survey in 2010. In the cohort study patients were assessed in their homes, by means of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and other assessment scales, as well as blood pressure measurements, several physical tests, and a review of medical diagnoses appearing in the medical charts. Incident stroke data were collected from medical charts guided by hospital registry records, cause of death records, and reassessments after 5 years. Depression was defined as a GDS-15 score ≥5. A clinical definition of all depressive disorders, based on assessment scale scores and review of medical charts was also used. A specialist in geriatric medicine evaluated the diagnoses. The survey included yes/no questions about stroke and depression status, and the 4-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Associations with mortality and incident stroke were tested using Cox proportional-hazard models.  Results In the ≥85-year-olds examined in 2005-2007 (n=601), the stroke prevalence was 21.5%, the prevalence of all depressive disorders was 37.8% and stroke was independently associated with depressive disorders (odds ratio 1.644, p=0.038). The prevalence of depression according to GDS-15 scores was 43.2% in people with stroke compared with 25.0% in people without stroke (p=0.001). However, in ≥85-year-olds examined in Sweden from 2000-2012 (n=955), from all past data collections in the study, depression was not independently associated with incident stroke.  In ≥65-year-olds who responded to a survey in 2010 (n=6098), the stroke prevalence rose with age from 4.7% among the 65- to 11.6% among the 80-year-olds (p&lt;0.001). The prevalence of depression rose from 11.0% among the 65- to 18.1% among the 80-year-olds (p&lt;0.001). In the group with stroke, depression was independently associated with dependence in personal activities of daily living and having a life crisis the preceding year, while in the non-stroke group, depression was independently associated with several additional demographic, social and health factors. In ≥85-year-olds examined in 2005-2007 with valid GDS-15 tests (n=452), having had a stroke was associated with increased 5-year mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-2.03]. Having had a stroke and depression was associated with increased 5-year mortality compared with having only stroke (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.15-3.13), having only depression (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.03-2.45), and compared with having neither stroke nor depression (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.69-3.69). Having only stroke without a depression did not increase mortality compared with having neither stroke nor depression. In ≥85-year-olds examined in Sweden from 2000-2012 (n=955), from all past data collections in the study, the stroke incidence was 33.8/1000 person-years during a mean follow-up period of about three years. In a comprehensive multivariate model, atrial fibrillation (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.07–3.19) and higher systolic blood pressure (SBP; HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.08–1.30 per 10-mmHg increase) were associated with incident stroke overall. In additional multivariate models, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg (HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.47–4.08) and SBP ≥160 mmHg (v. &lt;140 mmHg; HR 2.80, 95% CI 1.53–5.14) were associated with incident stroke. Conclusion The prevalence of both stroke and depression increased with age, and rates were especially high among very old people. Having had a stroke was independently associated with a higher prevalence of depression among very old people, however, depression was not independently associated with a higher incidence of stroke. Having had a stroke was associated with increased all-cause mortality among very old people, but only among those who were also depressed. High SBP (≥160 mmHg), DBP (≥90 mmHg) and atrial fibrillation were the only consistent independent risk factors for incident stroke among very old people. / I västvärlden inklusive Sverige så ökar gruppen av människor som uppnår åldern 80 år eller äldre. Människorna som uppnår denna mycket höga ålder har en hög förekomst av kardiovaskulära riskfaktorer, har ofta flera samtidiga sjukdomar och ofta funktionsnedsättningar. Medicinska behandlingsåtgärder är ofta mindre effektiva och förknippade med biverkningar i åldersgruppen. Stroke är en sjukdom som beror på skada av hjärnvävnad till följd av minskad blodtillhörsel till delar av hjärnan. Det är känt att såväl förekomsten av och insjuknandet i stroke ökar med stigande ålder. Den som drabbas av stroke löper risk att få en bestående funktionsnedsättning och att dö i förtid. En vanlig komplikation efter att ha drabbats av stroke är nedstämdhet eller depression. Vetenskapliga studier om stroke har tidigare negligerat mycket gamla människor, vilket i takt med den pågående demografiska utvecklingen framstått som allt mer orimligt. Det är ej helt klarlagt vilka riskfaktorer som leder till att insjukna med stroke i mycket hög ålder. Överdödligheten förknippad med att drabbas av depression efter stroke är också oklar i åldersgruppen. Det är också oklart vad som skiljer depression efter stroke från depression bland den övriga befolkningen av åldrade människor. Den populations-baserade kohortstudien GErontologisk Regional DAtabas (GERDA) inleddes år 2000 för att kartlägga faktorer förknippade med gott åldrande bland mycket gamla människor. Hälften av 85-åringarna, alla 90-åringar och alla ≥95-åringar i utvalda kommuner i Västerbotten erbjöds att delta i studien. Därefter har återbesök hos tidigare deltagare i sina nya åldersgrupper och rekrytering av nya deltagare genomförts vart femte år. Studien utvidgades med utvalda kommuner i Österbotten, Finland vid den första femårsuppföljningen. Datainsamlingen i studien bestod av demografiska frågor, skattningsskalor, blodtrycksmätning och kognitiva test genomförda vid ett hembesök i deltagarens hem, samt genomgång av journalhandlingar. År 2010 skickades även en enkät ut till 65-, 70-, 75- och 80-åringar i alla kommuner i Västerbotten och Österbotten. Enkäten innehöll frågor om demografi, hälsa, sjukdomar och intressen. Bland deltagarna i kohortstudien bestämdes förekomsten av tidigare stroke baserat på genomgång av journaluppgifter och uppgifter från hembesöken. Förekomsten av depression bestämdes baserat på poängsättning från en validerad skattningsskala för depression, samt baserat på en sammanvägning av journaluppgifter och skattningsskalor. En specialist i geriatrik fattade det slutliga beslutet om diagnoser. Insjuknande i stroke bestämdes baserat på journalgenomgång av individer med stroke-relaterade diagnoskoder i sjukhusregistret, i dödsorsaksregistret eller uppgift om stroke vid femårsuppföljningen i studien. Bland deltagarna i enkätstudien bestämdes förekomsten av tidigare stroke baserat på självrapportering, och förekomsten av depression bestämdes baserat på en sammanvägning av självrapportering och en skattningsskala för depression.  Förekomsten av stroke i enkätstudien steg med ålder, från 4.7% bland 65-åringar till 11.6% bland 80-åringar. Förekomsten av stroke var omkring 20% bland ≥85-åringar, med minimal variation mellan 85-, 90- och ≥95-åringar. Förekomsten av depression var högre bland dem med stroke jämfört med de övriga deltagarna, både gällande den sammavägda diagnosen och baserat endast på poängsättning. Stroke och sömnproblem var oberoende associerade med depression. Bland ≥65-åringar i enkätstudien var funktionsnedsättning och genomgången livskris associerade med depression hos dem med en tidigare stroke. Bland deltagare utan stroke var ett antal ytterligare externa faktorer, inklusive subjektiv upplevelse av dålig ekonomi och att inte ha någon att anförtro sig till, associerade med depression. Både stroke och depression var associerade med ökad dödlighet bland ≥85-åringar. De med stroke utan depression hade en dödlighet i linje med normalbefolkningen utan stroke eller depression. Förekomsten av samtidig stroke och depression var associerad med högre dödlighet än normalbefolkningen, jämfört med dem med enbart stroke eller enbart depression. Högt systoliskt blodtryck (≥160 mmHg), högt diastoliskt blodtryck (≥90 mmHg) och förmaksflimmer var oberoende riskfaktorer för att insjukna i stroke bland ≥85-åringarna. Sambandet mellan blodtryck och strokerisk försvagades ej hos människor med kognitiv eller funktionell nedsättning. Tidigare stroke, hjärtsvikt, kognitiv nedsättning, näringsbrist, depressiva symtom och låg gånghastighet var också associerade med att insjukna i stroke, men ej oberoende av varandra. Sammanfattningsvis så stiger förekomsten av stroke med åldern och är särskilt hög bland mycket gamla människor. Depression är betydligt vanligare hos mycket gamla människor med stroke, även justerat för störningsfaktorer. Depression är främst associerat med funktions-nedsättning hos människor med stroke, men med ett större antal externa faktorer hos människor utan stroke. Mycket gamla människor med stroke har särskilt hög dödlighet om de samtidigt är deprimerade, men en dödlighet i linje med normalbefolkningen om de inte är deprimerade. Högt systoliskt och diastoliskt blodtryck samt förmaksflimmer är viktiga och behandlingsbara orsaker till att drabbas av stroke i mycket hög ålder.