Wanyu Zhao1, Yan Zhang1, Xiaolei Liu2, Jirong Yue2, Lisha Hou1, Xin Xia1, Zhiliang Zuo1, Yang Liu1, Shuli Jia1, Birong Dong3, Ning Ge4. 1. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China. 2. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China; Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China. 3. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China; Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: birongdong123@outlook.com. 4. National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China; Center of Gerontology and Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37 GuoXueXiang, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: grace7733@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety are two common mental disorders in older people. Studies have reported that depression is strongly associate with frailty, but few studies focus on anxiety disorder and comorbid two mental disorders. In this study, we aimed to identify associations between comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms with frailty in older adults. METHODS: 4,103 community-dwellings adults aged 60 and older from the baseline of the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study were included. Frailty was measured by the Fried frailty phenotype criteria. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) assessed for depressive and anxiety symptoms with a cut-off value of 5. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the association between different depressive and anxiety status and frailty. RESULTS: 8.7% of old adults suffered comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms in the present study. The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty was 47.0% and 6.7%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, individuals with comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms had higher odds of being pre-frail (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.41, 2.45) and frail (OR=7.03, 95% CI=4.48, 11.05) compared to those without depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the comorbidity group, those with severe comorbid symptoms also had higher prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty. LIMITATIONS: Depressive and anxiety symptom assessments were based on screening tools. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with frailty among Chinese older adults. Further efforts to screen and target depression and anxiety comorbidity may be warranted.
BACKGROUND:Depression and anxiety are two common mental disorders in older people. Studies have reported that depression is strongly associate with frailty, but few studies focus on anxiety disorder and comorbid two mental disorders. In this study, we aimed to identify associations between comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms with frailty in older adults. METHODS: 4,103 community-dwellings adults aged 60 and older from the baseline of the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study were included. Frailty was measured by the Fried frailty phenotype criteria. The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) assessed for depressive and anxiety symptoms with a cut-off value of 5. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the association between different depressive and anxiety status and frailty. RESULTS: 8.7% of old adults suffered comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms in the present study. The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty was 47.0% and 6.7%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, individuals with comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms had higher odds of being pre-frail (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.41, 2.45) and frail (OR=7.03, 95% CI=4.48, 11.05) compared to those without depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the comorbidity group, those with severe comorbid symptoms also had higher prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty. LIMITATIONS: Depressive and anxiety symptom assessments were based on screening tools. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with frailty among Chinese older adults. Further efforts to screen and target depression and anxiety comorbidity may be warranted.