The Association between Depression and Malnutrition in Older Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Depression and malnutrition are common and interrelated geriatric health problems that significantly influence morbidity, functional capacity, and quality of life among older adults.

The objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between the severity of depression and malnutrition in older adults and to evaluate the impact of nutritional status on depressive symptom intensity.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 elderly participants aged 65 years and above attending the general medicine outpatient and inpatient departments of a tertiary care hospital. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and depression severity was evaluated using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Data were analyzed to determine associations between depression and nutritional categories.

Of the 100 participants, 50% were "at risk" of malnutrition, 30% were malnourished, and 20% were well-nourished. Mild depression was observed in 50.8% and severe depression in 9.2% of participants. A significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between worsening nutritional status and increasing depression severity. Elderly individuals living alone or with chronic illnesses were more prone to both malnutrition and depression.

There exists a significant bidirectional relationship between malnutrition and depression among elderly patients. Routine screening for nutritional and psychological health should be an integral part of geriatric care. Nutritional interventions, social support, and mental health evaluation can improve overall well-being and reduce complications in this population.