Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Depression among older adults represents a critical public health challenge in China. While previous research has documented spatial heterogeneity in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly populations across China, the comprehensive spatiotemporal patterns remain inadequately characterized. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? This study provides the first comprehensive city-level analysis of elderly depressive symptom prevalence in China from 2013 to 2020. The findings reveal a substantial increase in average prevalence from 30.27% [95% confidence interval (CI): 24.53%, 36.02%] in 2013 to 37.79% (95% CI: 31.01%, 44.56%) in 2020. Higher prevalence rates were consistently observed in cities across Southwest, Northwest, and Central China, though without significant spatial clustering patterns. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? Enhanced mental health interventions and preventive strategies targeting elderly populations are particularly warranted in China's western and central regions, where the burden of depressive symptoms is highest.