79 Relationship Between Depression and Nutritional Status Among the Elderly Attending Selected Primary Healthcare Centers in Lagos

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Depression causes and worsens malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition in the elderly of the developed world was about 22.6% and about 40% of hospitalized elderly are malnourished while about 4.8% have one major depressive episode in people aged 50 and above. Food rich in omega-3 has antidepressant effect and its low intake is linked with dementia. Decrease dietary folate has been linked with depression. This study was aimed at determining the relationship between depression and nutritional status among the elderly in selected primary healthcare centers (PHC) in Lagos Nigeria. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using multi-stage technique to select 219 participants by systematic sampling method from the selected PHC centers. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Nutritional status and Depression were assessed using Mini-Nutritional Assessment and Geriatric Depression Scale respectively. Data analysis was carried out using Epi-info 7.1. Associations were tested using Chi-square for categorical variables while t-test and analysis of variance were used for continuous variables. Associations were statistically significant if two-tailed probability was less than 5% (0.05). Results It was found that 57.9% and 47.1% were malnourished and depressed respectively. There was a statistically significant association between the sex of the participants and the nutritional status (p = 0.048). Statistically significant association existed between sex (p = 0.024), marital status (p = <0.001), educational qualification and depression. Statistically significant association between monthly income (p = <0.001), living arrangement (p = 0.002) and depression was demonstrated. There was a statistically significant association between family support (p = <0.001), nutritional status (p = <0.001) and depression. There was statistically significant difference between the height (p = 0.00885), weight (p = 0.00052, waist-hip ratio (p = 0.036) and the nutritional status. Remarkably, there was statistically significant difference between the waist (p = 0.023) and hip circumference (p = 0.047) and their level of depression. Conclusion A high prevalence of poor nutritional status and depression existed among the elderly primary healthcare centers.