title: Depression following hip fracture is associated with increased physical frailty in older adults: the role of the cortisol: dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate ratio.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hip fracture in older adults is associated with depression and frailty. This study examined the synergistic effects of depression and hip fracture on physical frailty, and the mediating role of the cortisol:dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational longitudinal study of patients with a hip fracture carried out in a hospital setting and with follow up in the community. Participants were 101 patients aged 60+ years (81 female) with a fractured neck of femur. Measurements of the ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, physical frailty and assays for serum cortisol and DHEAS were performed six weeks and six months post-hip fracture. Depressed and non-depressed groups were compared by ANOVA at each time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hip fracture patients who developed depression by week six (n = 38) had significantly poorer scores on ADL and walking indices of frailty at both week six and month six, and poorer balance at week six. The association with slower walking speed was mediated by a higher cortisol:DHEAS ratio in the depressed group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression following hip fracture is associated with greater physical frailty and poorer long term recovery post-injury. Our data indicate that the underlying mechanisms may include an increased cortisol:DHEAS ratio and suggest that correcting this ratio for example with DHEA supplementation could benefit this patient population.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. A.C.Phillips@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: Niharika Arora
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Duggal
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Janet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lord
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone