Race and vascular depression risk in community-dwelling older adults

Objective: Authors examined racial differences in cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and overall depressive symptomatology. Methods: The authors applied a correlational design using a depression inventory, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and self-report CVRF data from black and white community-dwelling elderly subjects (N=362). Results: Black subjects were more likely than whites to screen positive for depression, but there were no race differences in CVRFs. Across races, greater rates of CVRFs were associated with higher scores on the CES-D. CVRFs and lower education level were independent predictors of positive depression screening on the CES-D. Conclusions: CVRFs were associated with depression in black and white elderly subjects. Future research should examine race differences within vascular depression, utilizing broader measures of CVRFs.