Dependence of the geriatric depression scores on age, nutritional status, and haematologic variables in elderly institutionalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationships between depression and ageing, nutrition, and selected haematologic variables.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed in elderly institutionalized patients (n=100) of all nursing homes in the Brazilian city of Uberlandia, with determination of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores, and selected haematologic variables.


RESULTS
GDS had a significant negative dependence with the MNA for the entire institutionalized population. The prevalence of depression was higher among females, but significant correlations existed between GDS scores and erythrocytes counts, haemoglobin levels, or haematocrit values for the males only. However, a borderline correlation existed between GDS and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values in the females.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression was associated with worsening of nutritional status and the degree of anemia of the entire elderly population and the male, but not the female subjects. The borderline correlation observed between the GDS and MCV for the female subjects suggests that the nutritional deficiencies responsible for the MCV increase are a cause, and not an effect, of depression.
Alves de Rezende
C H
CH
Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Coelho
L M
LM
Oliveira
L M
LM
Penha Silva
N
N
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins