Depression, functional status and comorbidity in relation to subjective physical and mental health status: Results from CGA

Objective. The aims of this study were: a) to study the relationship between depression and subjective physical and mental health status; b) to analyse comorbidity burden with related medical diseases c) to explore possible correlations. Methods. The sample consisted of 1077 hospitalised individuals in the INRCA of Fermo. The protocol included: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE); Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15); Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL); Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL); Lubben Social Network Scale; SF-12 Health Survey; Comorbidity Index Rating Scale (CIRS). Regression analysis was used to explore possible correlations. Results. Depression was diagnosed in 38.1% of the total sample, most commonly in widowed and subjects with low educational status (p < 0.01). Subjects with high CIRS severity index were more depressed as compared to subjects with low/moderate severity index (p < 0.001). Similar results were observed in subjects with severe cognitive impairment (p < 0.001). Depressed subjects perceived their physical and mental health worse than non depressed subjects (p < 0.001). The explanatory variables of depression were MCS-12 and social isolation. Conclusions. Depressed subjects had low educational level, unfavourable economic level, poor subjective physical and mental health perception, poor social support, impaired functional status and high prevalence of cognitive decline.