The Relationship between Frailty and Depression among Hospitalized Older Adults

Abstract

railty is a common geriatric syndrome with multiple negative health outcomes such as falls, reduced mobility, loss of independence, hospitalization, disability and death. Depression is another common health problem among elderly that affects quality of life significantly. Depression and frailty have common risk factors, and both syndromes partially overlap that make distinguishing between them difficult. Having symptoms of depression may increase the risk for frailty in older adults. Presence of depression in older adults will negatively affect their behaviors and activity levels and will result in a decrease in their social participation, deterioration in their functional status, and consequently an increase in frailty. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between depression and frailty among hospitalized older adults who were admitted to the Geriatrics hospital, at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. The study was a cross-sectional study that included a total 100 elderly participants (60 years and older), men and women, who were recruited from the inpatient unit of Geriatric hospital, at Ain Shams University hospitals. The participants were assessed and then subdivided, according to due presence or absence of frailty, into two groups: (a) case group that included fifty frail participants, and (b) control group that included fifty non-frail participants.