Gerhards SKLuppa MRöhr SPabst ABauer AFrankhänel TDöhring JEscales CZöllinger IROey ABrettschneider CWiese BHoffmann WGensichen JKönig H-HFrese TThyrian JRKaduszkiewicz HRiedel-Heller SGMiettunen J2024-05-162024-05-162023-02-08Gerhards SK, Luppa M, Röhr S, Pabst A, Bauer A, Frankhänel T, Döhring J, Escales C, Zöllinger IR, Oey A, Brettschneider C, Wiese B, Hoffmann W, Gensichen J, König H-H, Frese T, Thyrian JR, Kaduszkiewicz H, Riedel-Heller SG. (2023). Depression and Anxiety in Old Age during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study of Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk and the General Population.. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 20. 4. (pp. 2975-).1661-7827https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/69583Our study aims to examine the associations of sociodemographic factors, social support, resilience, and perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic with late-life depression and anxiety symptoms in a cardiovascular risk group and a matched sample from the German general population during the beginning of the pandemic and draw a comparison regarding psychosocial characteristics. Data of n = 1236 participants (aged 64-81 years) were analyzed, with n = 618 participants showing a cardiovascular risk profile, and n = 618 participants from the general population. The cardiovascular risk sample had slightly higher levels of depressive symptoms and felt more threatened by the virus due to pre-existing conditions. In the cardiovascular risk group, social support was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the general population, high social support was associated with less depressive symptoms. Experiencing high levels of worries due to COVID-19 was associated with more anxiety in the general population. Resilience was associated with less depressive and anxiety symptoms in both groups. Compared to the general population, the cardiovascular risk group showed slightly higher levels of depressive symptomatology even at the beginning of the pandemic and may be supported by addressing perceived social support and resilience in prevention programs targeting mental health.(c) 2023 The Author/sCC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/COVID-19 pandemicanxietycardiovascular riskdepressive symptomsold ageHumansPandemicsCardiovascular DiseasesDepressionCOVID-19Risk FactorsAnxietyHeart Disease Risk FactorsJournal article10.3390/ijerph200429751660-4601journal-article2975-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/368336712975ijerph20042975