Prevalence and associated factors of cognitive impairment among hospitalized older adults with depression: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Guangzhou, China.
Geriatric depression is frequently complicated by cognitive impairment, which is linked to impaired self-care ability, elevated dementia and suicide risks, and heavier disease burden. Its pathogenesis involves metabolic disorders, vascular injury, neurodegenerative changes, and clinical factors. Nutritional status, social support, and lifestyle remain unclear in older patients with depression. This study aims to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and identify factors associated with cognitive impairment in hospitalized older adults with depression.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in China from February 2021 to March 2025. A total of 196 older patients diagnosed with depression were recruited using consecutive sampling. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data collection included a general information questionnaire, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with cognitive impairment.
The sample was composed of 70.9% female participants, with a mean age of 69.24 ± 5.84 years. A total of 45.4% participants had cognitive impairment. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that better nutritional status (MNA-SF: OR = 0.223, p = 0.010) and higher ADL score (OR = 0.975, p = 0.021) were negatively associated with cognitive impairment, while higher BPRS score (OR = 1.049, p = 0.020) was positively associated with cognitive impairment.
Cognitive impairment is prevalent in hospitalized older adults with depression. Poor nutrition, low self-care ability, and severity psychiatric symptoms are associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment. Targeted intervention strategies should be developed to address these factors.
A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in China from February 2021 to March 2025. A total of 196 older patients diagnosed with depression were recruited using consecutive sampling. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data collection included a general information questionnaire, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with cognitive impairment.
The sample was composed of 70.9% female participants, with a mean age of 69.24 ± 5.84 years. A total of 45.4% participants had cognitive impairment. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that better nutritional status (MNA-SF: OR = 0.223, p = 0.010) and higher ADL score (OR = 0.975, p = 0.021) were negatively associated with cognitive impairment, while higher BPRS score (OR = 1.049, p = 0.020) was positively associated with cognitive impairment.
Cognitive impairment is prevalent in hospitalized older adults with depression. Poor nutrition, low self-care ability, and severity psychiatric symptoms are associated with a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment. Targeted intervention strategies should be developed to address these factors.