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Cognitive decline and depressive symptoms in older adults: association with frailty and polypharmacy

Román-Santana W.M.; López Gómez H.E.; Solis Tapia N.G.; Cuadros Espinoza J.A.; Dávila-Morán R.C. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2026) · DOI: 10.47307/gmc.2026.134.3.5

Resumen

Introduction: Cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms are common conditions in older adults and often coexist with frailty and polypharmacy, defining a profile of high clinical vulnerability. Objective: To determine the frequency of cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms in older adults, and to analyze their association with frailty and polypharmacy. Design, setting, and patients: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative analytical study conducted in the geriatrics and internal medicine departments of a general hospital in Lima, Peru. Patients were adults aged 60 years or older who received care during the study period. Experimental design and execution: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the FRAIL scale were administered. Polypharmacy was defined as the regular use of five or more medications. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Main outcomes studied: Prevalence of cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, frailty, and polypharmacy, and their associations. Results: A sample of 268 individuals was analyzed. 44.0% presented with cognitive impairment, 32.1% with depressive symptoms, 55,6% with polypharmacy, and 25,4% with frailty. Cognitive impairment was associated with frailty (aPR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.41–3.38) and polypharmacy (aPR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.09–1.99). Depression was also associated with frailty (aPR: 4.12; 95% CI: 1.91–8.91) and with polypharmacy (aPR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.10–2.56). Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms are frequent in older adults and are associated with frailty and polypharmacy, reinforcing the need for comprehensive assessment in the care of this population.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú; Universidad Continental; Universidad Peruana Los Andes