BACKGROUND: The prevalence of diabetes for all age groups is estimated to be 2.8% globally in the year 200 affecting more men than women. Based on 2014-2016 annual census  of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at EVRMC, diabetes has been one of the leading causes of consultation at the Out-Patient Department of which 69% were elderly. This disease not only causes both macro and microvascular lesions resulting to psychological and psychosocial impacts leading to depression.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of depression among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in a tertiary government hospital from January to June 2017.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an analytical study on the association of the socio-demographic characteristics and adherence to medication among elderly diabetics with depression. Those diagnosed with T2DM who could read and write were screened for depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale.

RESULTS: A total of 110 elderly diabetic patients were seen. Of these, only 75 of them could read and write and selected as subjects. Thirty-one or 41.0% of them turned positive for depression. Socio-demographic characteristics of elderly diabetics with depression showed that 55% were females, mostly belonging to age group 60-69 years old (77%), married (58%), who lived with their spouses (58%), unemployed (42%), mostly with elementary education (45%) and belonging to the lower socio-economic class (97%). Their financial support mainly comes from their children (45%). twenty or 87% of the subjects with depression were adherent to their medication.

CONCLUSION: Age is significantly associated with depression in elderly diabetics because as they grow older, they are faced with physical, psychological and social role changes that challenge their sense of self and capacity to live happily. Adherence to medication is important among elderlies with diabetes.

Human ; Male ; Aged 80 And Over ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Spouses ; Depression ; Prevalence ; Outpatients ; Censuses ; Community Medicine ; Medication Adherence ; Marriage ; Depressive Disorder

Introduction: Occupational low back pain has been prevalent in many work places everywhere. The authors have encountered employees from all sorts of job coming in for a health consultation relative to low back pain, including those who work at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC). Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of low back pain among the employees of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC). The study specifically aimed to determine the profile of the employees, their low back pain experience, and the physical, psychological, and ergonomic factors which may be contributing to low back pain. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among employees of EVRMC. A questionnaire was distributed to 1002 employees, from which 914 was returned, yielding a return rate of 91%. Eight hundred six (806) respondents were considered for the study after excluding those who were pregnant and had history of trauma, and those whose questionnaires had missing data. Under an alpha level of 0.05, associations between the employees’ profile and LBP were determined. Results: Findings revealed that one hundred sixty seven out of the eight hundred six respondents (20.71%) had low back pain. One hundred forty-seven (147) of them had moderate disability. Majority of the respondents were young adults, aged 25-45 years old. Males and Females were affected equally. The most number of employees who were able to participate in the study were from the administrative (n=288) and the nursing (n=262) divisions. Twenty-one percent (21%) of the respondents had low back pain at the time of data gathering, and 51.49 % of them had ergonomic factors mostly causing their back pain. Conclusion The most common factor causing low back pain among the employees was ergonomic in nature and it had something to do with poor body mechanics. Awareness raising and giving of inputs through seminars and distribution of educational materials and pamphlets on proper body mechanics was put forth as recommendation from the findings of the study.
Low Back Pain ; Occupational Groups