The connection between depression and frailty among older adults with obstructive sleep apnea: results from a multicenter cohort study.

Background: The rising rates of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and frailty among older adults are linked to higher mortality rates. Depression merges as a critical determinant associated with both OSA and frailty. This study investigates the impact of depression on the risk of developing frailty in older adults diagnosed with OSA.

Method: Data from 1,021 older adults diagnosed with OSA were analyzed. Participants were stratified into two groups based on their scores on the 12-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-12) to evaluate differences in frailty incidence over time.

Result: Depression was identified in 113 patients (11.0%). Frailty developed in 276 patients during the median 52-month follow-up. The multivariate analysis indicated a significant link between depression and increased frailty risk (aHR = 2.65; 95% CI: 2.01-3.05; P < 0.001). Further subgroup analyses indicated that patients with moderate-to-severe OSA (aHR = 3.01; 95% CI: 2.20-4.10; P < 0.001) who also experienced depression faced a particularly heightened risk of frailty.

Conclusion: Depression is prevalent among older adults with OSA and constitutes an independent risk factor for frailty development. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing depression in this population to mitigate frailty risk.