Comorbid cognitive impairment and depression is a significant predictor of poor outcomes in hip fracture rehabilitation

Background: The effects of depression and cognitive impairment on hip fracture rehabilitation outcomes are not well established. We aimed to evaluate the associations of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment (individually and combined) with ambulatory) living activities and quality of life outcomes in hip fracture rehabilitation patients. Methods: A cohort of 146 patients were assessed on depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS >= 5), cognitive impairment (Mini-mental State Examination, MMSE <= 23), and other variables at baseline, and on ambulatory status, Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and SF-12 PCS and MCS quality of life on follow ups at discharge, 6 months and 12 months post fracture. Results: In these patients (mean age 70.8 years, SD 10.8), 7.5% had depressive symptoms alone, 28.8% had cognitive impairment alone, 50% had both, and 13.7% had neither (reference). Ambulatory status showed improvement over time in all mood and cognition groups (( beta = 0.008, P = 0.0001). Patients who had cognitive impairment alone (beta = -0.060, P = 0.001) and patients who had combined cognitive impairment with depressive symptoms beta = -0.62, P = 0.0003), showed significantly less improvement in ambulatory status than reference patients. In the latter group, the relative differences in ambulatory scores from the reference group were disproportionately greater over time (beta = -0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.021). Patients with combined depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment also showed a significantly lower MBI score, (beta = -10.92, SE = 4.01, P = 0.007) and SF-12 MCS (beta = -8.35, SE = 2.37, P = 0.0006). Mood and cognition status did not significantly predict mortality during the follow-up. Conclusion: Depression and cognitive impairment comorbidity is common in hip fracture rehabilitation patients and significantly predicts poor functional and quality of life outcomes.