PD963 - NUTRITIONAL RISK AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN INPATIENTS WITH LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE DECLINE

PD963

NUTRITIONAL RISK AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION IN INPATIENTS WITH LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION AND COGNITIVE DECLINE

N. Mohorko^1,*, V. Simič^1,2, P. Rus Prelog^2,3

¹Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Izola, ²Centre for Clinical Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Clinic, ³Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Rationale: Cognitive decline in older age has been associated with nutritional risk and poorer physical function. Data on older inpatients with late-life depression with and without cognitive decline are scarce. 

Methods: 196 hospitalized older patients (75,7 ± 7,3 years old) with late-life depression were divided into two groups based on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score: cognitive decline group (MMSE < 23; n = 70), and group without cognitive decline (MMSE ≥ 24; n=126). Nutritional risk was evaluated with Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI); serum glucose, lipides, TSH, T3, T4, vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid status were determined, and physical function was assessed by measuring handgrip strength and gait speed. Chi-square, t-test or Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare the parameters.

Results: No differences between the group with cognitive decline and the group without cognitive decline were observed in sex (77,1 % female vs. 64,3 % female; p = 0,062) or age (77,1 ± 7,2 years old vs. 75,0 ± 7,3 years old), and neither in GNRI score (101,6 ± 7,3 vs. 103,3 ± 7,8; p = 0,140). Cognitive decline group had higher glucose levels (6,1 ± 1,5 mmol/L vs. 5,7 ± 2,5 mmol/L; p = 0,003) and lower handgrip strength (17,1 ± 11 kg vs. 20,7 ± 9,9 kg; p = 0,004). A higher percentage of participants in cognitive decline group had gait speed ≤ 0,8 m/s (68,6 % vs. 52,4 %; p = 0,03).

Conclusion: Older inpatients with late-life depression with cognitive decline have poorer physical function compared to those without cognitive decline, but no differences in nutritional risk. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared