Correlation between depressive symptoms and frailty in elderly inpatients

Objective To explore the correlation between depressive symptoms and frailty, in order to provide evidence for prevention and relief of depressive symptoms in elderly inpatients. Methods A cross-sectional survey and comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA)were conducted with 248 eligible elderly inpatients from December 2015 to February 2017 in our hospital.Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 5-Item Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS-5), and frailty was identified by the frailty phenotype method. Results In all respondents, 50(20.2%)patients showed depressive symptoms, 93(37.5%)patients had pre-frailty and 39(15.7%)patients had frailty.Correlation analysis showed that frailty degree, low grip strength, slow gait speed, low physical activity, fatigue, and weakness were all positively correlated with depressive symptoms in elderly inpatients(r=0.441, 0.315, 0.426, 0.316, 0.395 and 0.151, respectively, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients who had more severe frailty faced a much higher risk of developing depressive symptoms(OR=2.608, P<0.05). Of the 5 indicators of frailty, slow gait speed and frailty also increased the risk of having depressive symptoms(OR=2.801 and 3.484, P<0.05). Conclusions Frailty degree, gait speed and fatigue are associated with increased risk of depression in the elderly.Depressive symptoms can be reduced in elderly inpatients with prevention and intervention of pre-frailty and frailty. Key words: Inpatients; Depression; Frailty