Investigation of the Effect of Gender on General Health Status, Cognitive Functions, Depressive Symptoms, and Spinal Pain in the Elderly: The Sample of Denizli

Year 2016, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 53 - 60, 24.06.2016

Nesrin Yağcı Emine Aslan Telci

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gender on general health status, cognitive functions, depressive symptoms, back pain intensity and neck pain intensity in old adults living in Denizli. This study included 140 voluntary elderly between 65-97 years old (75 females, 65 males; mean age: 71.30±6.35 yrs.). After demographic data recorded, general health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor), cognitive functions (Standardized Mini Mental Test/SMMT), depressive symptoms (Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale), back and neck pain intensity (Verbal Analog Scale) assessments were performed. The results of this study showed that elderly women were affected more negatively than men in terms of back pain intensity, general health status and depressive symptoms (p<0.05). There was a relationship between neck pain intensity and general health status; back pain intensity, general health status and depressive symptoms in females (p<0.05). Back pain intensity was related to general health status in males (p<0.05). The results of our study showed that the elderly women living in Denizli were affected more negatively than men in terms of health related parameters

Keywords

Elderly, Gender, Spinal Pain, Cognitive Functions, Depressive Symptoms

Yaşlılarda Cinsiyetin Genel Sağlık Durumuna, Kognitif Fonksiyona, Depresif Semptomlara, Bel ve Boyun Ağrısına Etkisinin İncelenmesi: Denizli Örneği

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı Denizli ilinde yaşayan yaşlılarda cinsiyetin genel sağlık durumuna, kognitif fonksiyona, depresif semptomlara, bel ve boyun ağrısına olan etkisinin incelenmesi idi. Çalışma Denizli ilinde yaşayan 65-97 yaş arasındaki 140 gönüllü yaşlı bireyi içerdi (75 kadın, 65 erkek; ortalama yaş: 71,30±6,35 yıl). Demografik veriler kaydedildikten sonra genel sağlık durumu (mükemmel, çok iyi, iyi, zayıf, kötü), kognitif fonksiyon (Standardize Mini Mental Test/SMMT), depresif semptomların varlığı (Yesavage Geriatrik Depresyon Ölçeği), boyun, ve bel bölgesine yönelik ağrı şiddeti (Verbal Ağrı Skalası) değerlendirmeleri yapıldı. Bu çalışmanın sonuçları kadın yaşlıların bel ağrısı şiddeti, genel sağlık durumu ve depresif semptomlar açısından erkeklere göre olumsuz yönde daha fazla etkilendiklerini göstermiştir (p<0,05). Kadınlarda boyun ağrısı şiddeti ve genel sağlık durumu; bel ağrısı şiddeti, genel sağlık durumu ve depresif semptomlar ile ilişkili idi (p<0,05). Erkeklerde bel ağrısı şiddeti, genel sağlık durumu ile ilişkili idi (p<0,05). Bu çalışmanın sonuçları Denizli ilinde yaşayan yaşlı kadınların sağlıkla ilişkili parametreler açısından erkek yaşlılara göre daha fazla olumsuz yönde etkilendiğini göstermiştir.

Keywords

Yaşlı, cinsiyet, bel ağrısı, kognitif fonksiyon, depresif semptomlar

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