Hypertension and depression coexistence and its association with frailty in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Frailty syndrome is a common condition in older adults, characterized by a decline in physiological reserves and increased vulnerability to stressors. It is particularly prevalent among individuals with comorbidities such as hypertension and depression.

To assess the association between the coexistence of hypertension and depressive symptoms and frailty syndrome in older adults.

This observational, cross-sectional study included 1,492 adults aged ≥60 years from the CEMENA Frailty Study. Depressive symptoms was assessed using the 5-item Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. Frailty was measured using the Fried phenotype. Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders such as age, gender, education, and multimorbidity.

Of the 1,492 participants, 24.9% (n=372) were classified as frail, and 26.2% (n=391) had both hypertension and depressive symptoms. Their coexistence was significantly associated with frailty (adjusted prevalence ratio=1.90, 95%CI 1.34-2.68, p<0.001). Other factors, including advanced age, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, anxiety symptoms, and neurocognitive impairment, were also associated with frailty.

The coexistence of hypertension and depressive symptoms was significantly associated with frailty in older adults. This finding highlights the need for an integrated approach to managing both cardiovascular and mental health conditions in geriatric care. Early identification and treatment of these conditions may help mitigate frailty and improve overall health and quality of life in aging populations.