Depressive symptoms and functional decline in an elderly sample of urban center in northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2014-03, Vol.58 (2), p.214-218
• Main Authors: Gomes, Cristiano dos Santos, Maciel, Álvaro Campos Cavalcanti, Freire, Aline do Nascimento Falcão, Moreira, Mayle de Andrade, Ribeiro, Marília de Oliveira, Guerra, Ricardo Oliveira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Body Mass Index; Brazil; Brazil - epidemiology; Cognition; Community living; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression - physiopathology; Disabled Persons - statistics & numerical data; Elderly; Elderly people; Female; Functional performance; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Internal Medicine; Linear Models; Male; Mobility; Motor Activity; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological Tests; Regression Analysis; Residence Characteristics; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2013.10.009

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). Conclusion 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.