Depressive symptoms and frailty. (7th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: St. John, Philip D.; Tyas, Suzanne L.; Montgomery, Patrick R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of geriatric psychiatry. Volume 28:Number 6(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 607
• Page End: 614
• Publication Date: 2012-09-07
• Subjects: Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Geriatric Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.3866
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6230

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Frailty and depressive symptoms are common issues facing older adults and may be associated.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To determine if: (i) depressive symptoms are associated with frailty; (ii) there is a gradient in this effect across the range of depressive symptoms; and (iii) the association between depressive symptoms and frailty is specific to particular types of depressive symptoms (positive affect, negative affect, somatic complaints, and interpersonal relations).</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Secondary analysis of an existing population‐based study was conducted.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Population</title> <p>In 1991, 1751 community‐living adults aged 65+ years were interviewed.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measures</title> <p>Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression (CES‐D) scale. Frailty was graded from 0 (<italic>no frailty</italic>) to 3 (<italic>moderate/severe frailty</italic>). Age, gender, education, marital status, self‐rated health, and the number of comorbid conditions were self‐reported.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Analyses</title> <p>Logistic regression models were constructed with the outcome of no frailty/urinary incontinence only versus frailty.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Depressive symptoms were strongly associated with frailty, and there was a gradient effect across the entire range of the CES‐D scale. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval was 1.08 (1.06, 1.09) per point of the CES‐D in unadjusted models. After potential confounding factors were adjusted, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.03 (1.01, 1.05). Positive affect, negative affect, and somatic complaints were all associated with frailty, whereas interpersonal relations were not associated with frailty.</p> </sec> <sec id="gps3866-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Depressive symptoms are associated with frailty. Clinicians should consider assessing frail older adults for the presence of depression. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>