Additive effects of cognitive function and depressive symptoms on mortality in elderly community-living adults.

TitleAdditive effects of cognitive function and depressive symptoms on mortality in elderly community-living adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsMehta, KM, Yaffe, K, Langa, KM, Sands, L, Whooley, M, Covinsky, KE
JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Volume58
Issue5
PaginationM461-7
Date Published2003 May
ISSN Number1079-5006
Call Numberpubs_2003_Mehta_KJoG.pdf
KeywordsAged, Cognition, depression, Female, Humans, Male, Mortality, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Poor cognitive function and depressive symptoms are common in the elderly, frequently coexist, and are interrelated. Both risk factors are independently associated with mortality. Few studies have comprehensively described how the combination of poor cognitive function and depressive symptoms affect the risk for mortality. Our aim was to examine whether the combination of varying levels of cognitive function and depressive symptoms affect the risk of mortality in community-living elderly adults.

METHODS: We studied 6301 elderly adults (mean age, 77 years; 62% women; 81% white) enrolled in the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study, a prospective study of community-living participants conducted from 1993 to 1995. Cognitive function and depressive symptoms were measured using two validated measures developed for the AHEAD study. On each measure, participants were divided into tertiles representing the best, middle, and worst scores, and then placed into one of nine mutually exclusive groups ranging from best functioning on both measures to worst functioning on both measures. Mortality rates were assessed in each of the nine groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to control for potentially confounding characteristics such as demographics, education, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidity, and baseline functional impairment.

RESULTS: During 2 years of follow-up, 9% (548) of the participants died. Together, cognitive function and depressive symptoms differentiated between elderly adults at markedly different risk for mortality, ranging from 3% in those with the best function on both measures to 16% in those with the worst function on both measures (p <.001). Furthermore, for each level of cognitive function, more depressive symptoms were associated with higher mortality rates, and for each level of depressive symptoms, worse cognitive function was associated with higher mortality rates. In participants with the best cognitive function, mortality rates were 3%, 5%, and 9% in participants with low, middle, and high depressive symptoms, respectively (p <.001 for trend). The corresponding rates were 6%, 7%, and 12% in participants with the middle level of cognitive function (p <.001 for trend), and 10%, 13%, and 16% in participants with the worst level of cognitive function (p <.001 for trend). After adjustment for confounders, participants with the worst function on both measures remained at considerably higher risk for death than participants with the best function on both measures (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-4.7).

CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive function and depressive symptoms can be used together to stratify elderly adults into groups that have significantly different rates of death. These two risk factors are associated with an increased risk in mortality in a progressive, additive manner.

DOI10.1093/gerona/58.5.m461
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12730257?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Cognitive Function/Depressive Symptoms/Mortality

Endnote ID

8680

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci
Citation Key6848
PubMed ID12730257
PubMed Central IDPMC2939722
Grant ListP30 AG015272-07S1 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K02 HS 00006-01 / HS / AHRQ HHS / United States
T32 AG 00212-08 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K08 AG 19180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K08 AG019180 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG000212 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG015272 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG019827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K02 HS000006 / HS / AHRQ HHS / United States
R01AG 19827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG 00888 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 AG000888 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States