Body composition and depression in people with metabolic syndrome aged over 55 years

Background. Aging is a physiological process during which a number of adverse and irreversible organ involution changes, leading to a reduction in functional capacity of the body, both in physical and mental terms. The risk of chronic disease and depression increases with age.

Objectives. Analysis of body composition and depression in people over 55 years of age with metabolic syndrome.

Material and methods. The study group is 157 persons aged 55–69 years (112 women and 45 men). The authors analyzed body composition by electrical bioimpedance analyzer (Jawon IOI 353). In addition to the assessment of depression a questionnaire involving 30-point Geriatric Depression Scale was used.

Results. In the study group women scored significantly lower than men on the average values of lean body mass, and an average of 7% higher than the value determining the percentage of body fat. The vast majority (70.7%; n = 111) patients showed no signs of depression. It has been shown that women with major depression had significantly higher mean values of body fat compared to women characterized by the absence or a mild depression.

Conclusions. Diagnosis of depression in the elderly may be difficult due to the presence of the “masked depression”. There is a trend indicating the relationship between the prevalence of depressive symptoms and weight and body composition of people over 55 years of age, but in order to verify it the authors need to continue the study on increased number of research groups, perhaps taking into account different environmental factors.