Fatigue, sleep and depression: An exploratory interRAI study of older adults

Fatigue, sleep and depression: An exploratory interRAI study of older adults

Author:
Publication type: 
Journal Article
Year: 
2020
Journal/Series title: 
Psychiatry Res
Volume number: 
284
Pages: 
112772
ISSN/ISBN: 
1872-7123 (Electronic) 0165-1781 (Linking)
Abstract: 

An association between fatigue and depression was reported for older adults. We examined the association between fatigue, sleep and depression from interRAI-HC assessments of community dwelling older people (65+ years). Interview data from 5,950 participants who completed their first interRAI-HC assessment was analysed (mean age, 81.3 +/- 7.1 years; 60.2% female). Only 873 (15%) reported "severe" fatigue. Nearly half reported minor sleep problems. Depression was diagnosed in 693 participants (11.6%). Depression explained only 0.2% of fatigue. This calls for further studies that may help in understanding the relationship between fatigue and depression across the life-cycle.