Adverse effects of depression and cognitive impairment on rehabilitation participation and recovery from hip fracture.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the effects of depression and cognitive impairment in elderly hip fracture patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation. Our goal was to determine whether any association of depression and cognitive impairment with rehabilitation outcome is accounted for by more immediate effects of these variables on rehabilitation participation.


METHODS
We measured depression using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), cognition using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and rehabilitation outcomes using the motor scale of the Functional Independence Measure (motor FIM) in a prospective observational study of 57 elderly rehabilitation hospital patients admitted to a university-affiliated, freestanding rehabilitation hospital with primary diagnosis of hip fracture. We also assessed rehabilitation participation, to determine whether this accounted for (mediated) any relationship of depression and cognitive impairment with rehabilitation outcome.


RESULTS
Baseline Ham-D and MMSE scores were correlated with motor FIM efficiency-those with higher depressive symptoms had lower efficiency (r = -0.44, p < 0.001); similarly, those with more cognitive impairment had lower motor FIM efficiency (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). Rehabilitation participation was a mediator of this association: greater depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment predicted poorer rehabilitation participation which, in turn, predicted lower motor FIM efficiency. Ham-D and MMSE scores were predictors of discharge location: subjects with high depressive symptoms and greater cognitive impairment were more likely to go to a nursing home or personal care home upon discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression and cognitive impairment are predictive of negative outcomes in elderly patients' rehabilitation from hip fracture. This effect is mediated by rehabilitation participation, and ratings in this area may serve as a potentially useful clinical and research tool for the rehabilitation environment.
Lenze
Eric J
EJ
Intervention Research Center for the Study of Late Life Mood Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. lenzeej@msx.upmc.edu
Munin
Michael C
MC
Dew
Mary Amanda
MA
Rogers
Joan C
JC
Seligman
Karen
K
Mulsant
Benoit H
BH
Reynolds
Charles F
CF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome