Does the coexistence of pain and depressive symptoms accelerate cognitive decline?

OBJECTIVES: Investigate whether the coexistence of pain and depressive symptoms is a risk factor for cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 or older. METHOD: Longitudinal trajectory study involving 4,718 participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Joint pain was self-reported, and intensity was classified as mild, moderate/intense. Depressive symptoms were investigated using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-8 ≥ 4). The sample was divided into six groups: no pain and no depression (NP/NDe), mild pain and no depression (MP/NDe), moderate/intense pain and no depression (M-IP/NDe), no pain and depression (NP/De), mild pain and depression (MP/De), and moderate/intense pain and depression (M-IP/De). The outcome of interest was performance in memory, executive function, and global cognition. Generalised linear mixed models were used to analyse performance in the cognitive domains and global cognition score as a function of pain and depressive symptoms during 12 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Over time, individuals with M-IP/De had a greater memory decline (-0.038 SD/year, 95%CI: -0.068 to -0.007) and the global cognition score (-0.033 SD/year, 95%CI: -0.063 to -0.002) than those with NP/NDe. CONCLUSION: The coexistence of moderate/intense pain and depressive symptoms is a risk factor for the decline of global cognition and memory.

Factors associated with functional capacity in the elderly enrolled in the Family Health Strategy. / Fatores associados a capacidade funcional de idosos adscritos à Estratégia de Saúde da Família.

The study investigated the prevalence of functional capacity decline and its associated factors in the older people enrolled in the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in a city in the south of Minas Gerais. This is an observational, cross-sectional, population-based study with 406 elderly (70.49 years ± 6.77). The functional capacity was evaluated by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and its associated factors were evaluated by a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic, economic, clinical and physical aspects. The analysis of plasma levels of inflammatory mediators was performed by the ELISA method. Multiple linear regression was used for the analyses (p < 0.05). The prevalence of functional decline in the sample was 57.6% and factors associated with functional capacity were advanced age, female gender, number of medications, depressive symptoms, high plasma concentrations of the soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor alpha 1 (sTNFR1) and low handgrip strength. The results demonstrated that functional capacity was associated with a network of multidimensional factors. This study contributes to the practice of ESF professionals by indicating the main factors that can guide actions to promote and prevent the decline of functional capacity in the elderly population.

O estudo investigou a prevalência de declínio da capacidade funcional e seus fatores associados em idosos adscritos à Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), em um município do sul de Minas Gerais. Estudo observacional, transversal, de base populacional, com 406 idosos. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada pelo Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); seus fatores associados foram avaliados por um questionário estruturado incluindo aspectos sociodemográficos, econômicos, clínicos e físicos. Concentrações de mediadores inflamatórios foram dosadas pelo método de Elisa ("Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay"). Regressão linear múltipla foi usada para as análises (p < 0,05). A prevalência de declínio funcional na amostra foi de 57,6% e os fatores associados à capacidade funcional foram: idade avançada, sexo feminino, número de medicamentos, sintomas depressivos, elevadas concentrações plasmáticas de receptor solúvel 1 do fator de necrose tumoral alfa (sTNFR1) e baixa força de preensão palmar. Os resultados mostraram que a capacidade funcional foi associada a uma rede de fatores multidimensionais. O presente estudo contribui para a prática de profissionais na ESF ao apontar os principais fatores que podem nortear as ações de promoção e prevenção do declínio da capacidade funcional na população idosa.

Fatores associados a capacidade funcional de idosos adscritos à Estratégia de Saúde da Família / Factors associated with functional capacity in the elderly enrolled in the Family Health Strategy

Resumo O estudo investigou a prevalência de declínio da capacidade funcional e seus fatores associados em idosos adscritos à Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), em um município do sul de Minas Gerais. Estudo observacional, transversal, de base populacional, com 406 idosos. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada pelo Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); seus fatores associados foram avaliados por um questionário estruturado incluindo aspectos sociodemográficos, econômicos, clínicos e físicos. Concentrações de mediadores inflamatórios foram dosadas pelo método de Elisa ("Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay"). Regressão linear múltipla foi usada para as análises (p < 0,05). A prevalência de declínio funcional na amostra foi de 57,6% e os fatores associados à capacidade funcional foram: idade avançada, sexo feminino, número de medicamentos, sintomas depressivos, elevadas concentrações plasmáticas de receptor solúvel 1 do fator de necrose tumoral alfa (sTNFR1) e baixa força de preensão palmar. Os resultados mostraram que a capacidade funcional foi associada a uma rede de fatores multidimensionais. O presente estudo contribui para a prática de profissionais na ESF ao apontar os principais fatores que podem nortear as ações de promoção e prevenção do declínio da capacidade funcional na população idosa.

Abstract The study investigated the prevalence of functional capacity decline and its associated factors in the older people enrolled in the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in a city in the south of Minas Gerais. This is an observational, cross-sectional, population-based study with 406 elderly (70.49 years ± 6.77). The functional capacity was evaluated by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and its associated factors were evaluated by a structured questionnaire including sociodemographic, economic, clinical and physical aspects. The analysis of plasma levels of inflammatory mediators was performed by the ELISA method. Multiple linear regression was used for the analyses (p < 0.05). The prevalence of functional decline in the sample was 57.6% and factors associated with functional capacity were advanced age, female gender, number of medications, depressive symptoms, high plasma concentrations of the soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor alpha 1 (sTNFR1) and low handgrip strength. The results demonstrated that functional capacity was associated with a network of multidimensional factors. This study contributes to the practice of ESF professionals by indicating the main factors that can guide actions to promote and prevent the decline of functional capacity in the elderly population.