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Nutritional Status and Adverse Outcomes in Older Depressed Inpatients: A Prospective Study
Z M Lobato1, A C Almeida da Silva, S M Lima Ribeiro
1Ivan Aprahamian, MD, MS, PhD, FACP. Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. R. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, 1º andar, sala 1C 015. ZIP: 05403-903. Phone: (11) 2661-6963. São Paulo, Brazil,
The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
|August 19, 2021
Summary
Malnutrition is common in older adults with depression. Objective nutritional measures, unlike subjective ones, predict adverse outcomes like falls and rehospitalization in this population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Weight loss and appetite loss are key depression symptoms.
- Malnutrition's impact on late-life depression is understudied.
- This study investigates malnutrition prevalence and outcomes in depressed older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate malnutrition prevalence in elderly psychiatric inpatients with unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
- Determine if malnutrition indices predict adverse health outcomes like falls and rehospitalization.
- Identify specific objective nutritional markers associated with negative health events.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study with 6-month follow-up.
- 105 older adult inpatients with unipolar MDD participated.
- Nutritional status assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and anthropometry; regression analyses used.
Main Results:
- 74.3% at risk, 12.4% malnourished based on MNA.
- Malnutrition linked to higher age, frailty, lower BMI, and smaller calf circumference.
- Low calf circumference predicted falls (OR 4.93); higher calf circumference predicted rehospitalization (OR 1.17).
Conclusions:
- Malnutrition is prevalent in elderly depressed inpatients.
- Objective nutritional measures, not subjective ones, predict adverse outcomes.
- Calf circumference is a significant predictor of falls and rehospitalization in this cohort.
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