Frailty domains and quality of life associated with geriatric depression in Brazilian primary health care: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Geriatric depression is a prevalent and multifactorial condition that can be influenced by domains of frailty and quality of life (QoL) in older adults. In Brazil, there is a lack of studies that explore these factors in an integrated manner within the context of Primary Health Care (PHC). Our objective was to analyze the association between frailty domains, QoL, and geriatric depression among community-dwelling older adults assisted in PHC in urban areas of low population density. A cross-sectional, quantitative study involving 323 older adults registered in PHC units from two Brazilian municipalities. The instruments used were the Edmonton Frail Scale, the Short Form Health Survey, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Analyses included association tests, Spearman’s correlation, and univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. There was a strong negative correlation between depression and the physical and mental health domains of QoL, particularly “mental health”. Univariate binary logistic regression indicated that poorer scores in Self-perception of health, Mood, and Functional performance dimensions of Frailty were factors independently associated with depression. However, when evaluated jointly in the multivariate analysis, Self-perception of health and Mood consistently increased the strength of association.