Research Academy of Grand Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China.
Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, No. 818 Fenghua Road, Jiangbei District, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Sep 27;12(1):502. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02007-x.
Frailty is one of the most significant issues related to human aging. Although studies have confirmed the association of mental and cognitive disorders with frailty, the association might be influenced by age, since oldest-old adults are more likely to have adverse health outcomes. Thus, this study aimed to examine independent and combined associations of mental health and cognitive function with frailty in oldest-old adults using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2018.
A sum of 6,891 and 3,171 older adults aged 80 and older were included in this study when analyzing the association of depression and cognitive impairment with frailty, respectively. Frailty was measured by the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures frailty index, depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and cognitive impairment was evaluated by the Chinese version of modified Mini-Mental State Examination. Independent sample t-test, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations of depression and cognitive impairment with frailty.
Older persons with depression or cognitive impairment had a higher chance of frailty. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of frailty was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.59, p = 0.044) in those with depression, and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.14, 3.01, p = 0.013) in those with cognitive impairment. Compared to adults who had neither depression nor cognitive impairment, those with either depression or cognitive impairment, and those with both depression and cognitive impairment had a significantly higher likelihood of frailty (adjusted OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.41; and adjusted OR: 4.03, 95% CI: 2.05, 7.94).
The findings suggest that depression and cognitive impairment are associated with frailty. The concurrence of depression and cognitive impairment has an additive effect on frailty in oldest-old population.
衰弱是与人类衰老最相关的问题之一。尽管研究已经证实精神和认知障碍与衰弱之间存在关联，但这种关联可能受到年龄的影响，因为最年长的老年人更有可能出现不良健康后果。因此，本研究旨在使用 2018 年中国长寿纵向研究的数据，检验心理健康和认知功能与最年长老年人衰弱的独立和联合关联。
当分析抑郁和认知障碍与衰弱的关联时，分别纳入了 6891 名和 3171 名 80 岁及以上的老年人。衰弱通过骨质疏松性骨折衰弱指数进行测量，抑郁通过流行病学研究抑郁量表进行评估，认知障碍通过中文版改良简易精神状态检查进行评估。使用独立样本 t 检验、卡方检验和逻辑回归分析来检验抑郁和认知障碍与衰弱的关联。
患有抑郁或认知障碍的老年人衰弱的可能性更高。调整后的比值比（OR）为 1.27（95%置信区间：1.01，1.59，p=0.044），患有抑郁的老年人衰弱的调整后 OR 为 1.85（95%置信区间：1.14，3.01，p=0.013）。与既没有抑郁也没有认知障碍的成年人相比，有抑郁或认知障碍的成年人，以及有抑郁和认知障碍的成年人，衰弱的可能性明显更高（调整后的 OR：1.61，95%置信区间：1.07，2.41；和调整后的 OR：4.03，95%置信区间：2.05，7.94）。
这些发现表明抑郁和认知障碍与衰弱有关。抑郁和认知障碍并存对最年长老年人衰弱有累加效应。
