Depression following hip fracture is associated with increased physical frailty in older adults: the role of the cortisol: dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate ratio

BMC Geriatrics

Research Article

Niharika Arora Duggal¹  Janet M Lord¹  Douglas Carroll²  Anna C Phillips³  Jane Upton³ 

[1] School of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;MRC-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK;

关键词: Depression;    Hip fracture;    Frailty;    Cortisol;    Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2318-13-60

 received in 2013-01-29, accepted in 2013-06-13,  发布年份 2013

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHip fracture in older adults is associated with depression and frailty. This study examined the synergistic effects of depression and hip fracture on physical frailty, and the mediating role of the cortisol:dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) ratio.MethodsThis was an observational longitudinal study of patients with a hip fracture carried out in a hospital setting and with follow up in the community.Participants were 101 patients aged 60+ years (81 female) with a fractured neck of femur.Measurements of the ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function, physical frailty and assays for serum cortisol and DHEAS were performed six weeks and six months post-hip fracture. Depressed and non-depressed groups were compared by ANOVA at each time point.ResultsHip fracture patients who developed depression by week six (n = 38) had significantly poorer scores on ADL and walking indices of frailty at both week six and month six, and poorer balance at week six. The association with slower walking speed was mediated by a higher cortisol:DHEAS ratio in the depressed group.ConclusionDepression following hip fracture is associated with greater physical frailty and poorer long term recovery post-injury. Our data indicate that the underlying mechanisms may include an increased cortisol:DHEAS ratio and suggest that correcting this ratio for example with DHEA supplementation could benefit this patient population.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Phillips et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2013