Depressive symptoms and risk for malnutrition among hospitalized elderly people.
OBJECTIVE
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.
German
L
L
S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. germanl@bgu.ac.il
Feldblum
I
I
Bilenko
N
N
Castel
H
H
Harman-Boehm
I
I
Shahar
D R
DR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors