Profiles of depressive symptoms in Peru: An 8-year analysis in population-based surveys

Profiles of depressive symptoms have been described due to heterogeneity in symptomatology and presentation. In our study, we estimate depressive symptom profiles and relate these symptom profiles to risk factors in the Peruvian population. We carried out an observational study based on the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey (2014-2022). Men and women aged 15 years and older living in urban and rural areas in all regions of Peru were included. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to define depressive symptom profiles. We estimated latent class models to define the profiles and performed a Poisson regression analysis to determine the associated factors. A total of 259,655 participants were included. The three-class model was found to be the most appropriate, and the classes were defined according to the severity of depressive symptoms (moderate-severe symptoms, mild symptoms, and without depressive symptoms). Also, it was found that the three classes identified have not changed during the years of evaluations, presenting very similar prevalence over the years. In addition, women are more likely than men to belong to a class with more severe depressive symptoms; and the older the age, the higher the probability of belonging to a class with greater severity of depressive symptoms. Our study found that at the population level in Peru, depressive symptoms are grouped into three classes according to the intensity of the symptomatology present (no symptoms, mild symptoms and moderate-severe symptoms).