Depressive Symptoms and Physical Performance in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot Study

Matthews, Margaret M.; Hsu, Fang‐Chi; Walkup, Michael P.; Barry, Lisa C.; Patel, Kushang V.; Blair, Steven N.

doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03319.x

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

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Depressive Symptoms and Physical Performance in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot Study

Authors

Margaret M. Matthews MD, PhD,
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Fang-Chi Hsu PhD, MS,
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Michael P. Walkup MS,
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Lisa C. Barry PhD, MPH,
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Kushang V. Patel PhD, MPH,
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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Steven N. Blair PED
1. From the ^*Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine and ^∥Department of Exercise Science, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; ^†Department of Biostatistical Sciences, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; ^‡Program in Geriatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and ^§Laboratory of Epidemiology, Demography, and Biometry, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland.
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First published: 10 March 2011Full publication history
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03319.x View/save citation
Cited by (CrossRef): 10 articles Check for updates
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Address correspondence to Dr. Margaret Matthews, 3010 Farrow Road, Suite 300A, Columbia, SC 29203. E-mail: Margaret.Matthews@palmettohealth.org

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the presence of high depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score ≥14) diminished physical performance benefits after a comprehensive physical activity intervention in older adults.

DESIGN: A post hoc analysis of data from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study, a single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing a moderate-intensity physical activity intervention (PA) with a successful aging control (SA).

SETTING: Multicenter U.S. institutions participating in the LIFE-P trial.

PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred twenty-four sedentary, noninstitutionalized adults aged 70 to 89.

MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D. Physical performance tests included the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and 400-m walk time (400 mw) at baseline and 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS: Of the participants, 15.8% had high depressive symptom scores (CES-D ≥14). For participants with low depressive symptoms, SPPB scores improved more in the PA than the SA group over 12 months (adjusted score difference +0.70; P<.001 at 6 months and +0.58; P=.004 at 12 months), and 400 mw times improved in the PA group at 6 months (adjusted score difference −0.41 minutes; P=.02). For participants with high depressive symptoms, the difference in improvement fell short of statistical significance on the SPPB between the PA and SA groups (adjusted score difference +0.76 (P=.18) at 6 months and +0.94 (P=.12) at 12 months).

CONCLUSION: The presence of high depressive symptoms did not substantially diminish physical performance benefits realized after a PA intervention in sedentary older adults.

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