OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between depressive symptoms and risk for malnutrition in hospitalized elderly people. METHODS: 195 hospitalized medical patients older than 65 years of age were studied in a cross-sectional design. Depression was assessed by 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), nutritional status was evaluated by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Eating and digestive problems were assessed using selected items of Nutrition Risk Index (NRI), cognitive and functional status by Folstein and Barthel indices respectively; demographic data, diagnoses and medications were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in the studied population was 28%. MNA scores were significantly lower among depressed patients as compared with non-depressed (22.86 vs. 24.96, p < 0.001), indicating a higher risk for undernutrition among depressed persons. After controlling for age, cognitive status, functional ability, and number of illnesses, undernutrition was significantly associated with depression (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.04-4.8). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional risk is associated with depression in aged inpatients. Close case management of the elderly hospitalized patients that include assessment and treatment for both disorders may be beneficial.
OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between depressive symptoms and risk for malnutrition in hospitalized elderly people. METHODS: 195 hospitalized medical patients older than 65 years of age were studied in a cross-sectional design. Depression was assessed by 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), nutritional status was evaluated by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Eating and digestive problems were assessed using selected items of Nutrition Risk Index (NRI), cognitive and functional status by Folstein and Barthel indices respectively; demographic data, diagnoses and medications were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in the studied population was 28%. MNA scores were significantly lower among depressed patients as compared with non-depressed (22.86 vs. 24.96, p < 0.001), indicating a higher risk for undernutrition among depressed persons. After controlling for age, cognitive status, functional ability, and number of illnesses, undernutrition was significantly associated with depression (OR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.04-4.8). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional risk is associated with depression in aged inpatients. Close case management of the elderly hospitalized patients that include assessment and treatment for both disorders may be beneficial.
Authors: B D Lebowitz; J L Pearson; L S Schneider; C F Reynolds; G S Alexopoulos; M L Bruce; Y Conwell; I R Katz; B S Meyers; M F Morrison; J Mossey; G Niederehe; P Parmelee Journal: JAMA Date: 1997-10-08 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: D K Miller; M E Carter; R H Sigmund; J Q Smith; J P Miller; J A Bentley; K McDonald; R M Coe; J E Morley Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 1996-08 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Larissa German; C Kahana; V Rosenfeld; I Zabrowsky; Z Wiezer; D Fraser; D R Shahar Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: E Schrader; C Baumgärtel; H Gueldenzoph; P Stehle; W Uter; C C Sieber; D Volkert Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 4.075