title: Depressive symptoms and functional decline in an elderly sample of urban center in Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between depressive symptoms and functional status in elderly people living in an urban center in northeastern Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional, observational, analytic study, 313 community-dwelling elderly (age≥65 years) individuals of both sexes who resided in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, were evaluated. The Brazilian version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to screen for depressive symptoms. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery. A multivariate linear regression model adjusted for clinical and socioeconomic variables was used to analyze the association between depressive symptoms and functional performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our findings showed that the presence of depressive symptoms influenced functional performance, even when analyses controlled for variables such as age, sex, poor perceived health, cognitive status, and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study reinforce the association between depressive symptoms and functional performance in an elderly population in an urban center in northeastern Brazil. These findings provide useful information for the identification of potential targets for research and therapeutic interventions aimed at preventing a decline in mobility in elderly individuals.
authors.affiliation: Master of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiano dos Santos
authors.initials: Cdos S
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti
authors.initials: ÁC
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline do Nascimento Falcão
authors.initials: Ado N
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.affiliation: Master of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayle de Andrade
authors.initials: Mde A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Electronic address: ricardoguerra2009@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ricardo Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Guerra
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Depression; Elderly; Functional performance; Mobility