Assessing cardiorespiratory capacity in older adults with major depression and Alzheimer disease

Avaliação da capacidade cardiorrespiratória em idosos com depressão maior e doença de Alzheimer

ABSTRACT

Objective

To assess cardiorespiratory capacity through subjective and objective tests in older adults diagnosed with major depression (MDD), Alzheimer disease (AD) and healthy older adults.

Methods

Fifty seven subjects (72 ± 7.9 years) were divided into three groups: MDD (n = 20), AD (n = 17) and Healthy (n = 20). The subjects answered Hamilton Scale (HAM-D), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) and 2-minute Step test.

Results

MDD and AD showed lower scores than healthy group for Nomogram VSAQ (p < 0.001) and 2-minute Step (p = 0.009; p = 0.008, respectively). Adjusted for age and educational level, no differences among groups were observed for Step (MDD, p = 0.097; AD, p = 0.102). AD group did not present differences to healthy group for Step, when adjusting for MMSE (p = 0.261).

Conclusions

Despite the lower cardiorespiratory fitness of elderly patients with DM and DA have been found in both evaluations, the results should be viewed with caution, since the tests showed low correlation and different risk classifications of functional loss. In addition, age, level educational and cognitive performance are variables that can influence the performance objective evaluation.

Aging; mental health; physical fitness

RESUMO

Objetivo

Avaliar a capacidade cardiorrespiratória em idosos com depressão maior (DM), doença de Alzheimer (DA) e saudáveis, subjetiva (nomograma VSAQ) e objetivamente (2-minute STEP).

Métodos

Cinquenta e sete idosos (72 ± 7,9 anos) foram divididos em três grupos: DM (n = 20), DA (n = 17) e saudáveis (n = 20). Os sujeitos responderam a escala de Hamilton (HAM-D), Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), VSAQ (Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire) e o teste 2-minute Step.

Resultados

DM e DA apresentaram menores escores comparados aos saudáveis no nomograma VSAQ (p < 0,001) e no teste Step (p = 0,009 e p = 0,008). Controlado por idade e escolaridade, não houve diferenças entre os grupos no Step (DM, p = 0,097; DA, p = 0,102). DA também não mostrou diferenças no STEP em comparação aos saudáveis, quando controlado pelo MEEM (p = 0,261).

Conclusões

Apesar de a menor aptidão cardiorrespiratória de idosos com DM e DA ter sido encontrada nas duas avaliações, os resultados devem ser observados com cautela, uma vez que os testes apresentaram baixa correlação e classificações de risco de perda funcional divergentes. Além disso, a idade, o nível educacional e a capacidade cognitiva são variáveis que podem influenciar o desempenho na avaliação objetiva.

Envelhecimento; saúde mental; aptidão física

INTRODUCTION

During the aging process, there is an increase in the prevalence and incidence of mental disorders, such as depression and dementia. The prevalence of major depression in the elderly people ranges from 0.9% to 9.4% in private households¹. A study with 7.040 Brazilian elderly people found a prevalence of 22.7% of depressive symptoms². Besides depression, the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders also increases with aging. In this sense, dementias are the most prevalent, ranging from 1.6% in elderly people aged 65 years to 38.9% in those aged 85 years and older³, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common. Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms can influence the risks of physical decline and cardiorespiratory fitness, increasing mobility impairment and further loss of independence^4-6.

Among the physical skills damaged with aging, cardiorespiratory capacity reduces 9%-10% for each decade, contributing to the decrease of functional capacity⁷, which demonstrates the importance of assessing this valence, especially in older adults with physical and brain disorders. The gold standard for assessing maximal aerobic capacity is to directly measure maximal oxygen intake (VO_2max). However, the use of this technique in epidemiological studies is limited, especially due to high cost equipment, the need for technical expertise, risks associated with maximal exercise, especially in older adults, and possible physical limitations^8-10.

Alternatives for the estimation of exercise capacity have been developed over the years. One of them is the 2-minute Step, an aerobic resistance test included in the battery of tests named Senior Fitness Test¹¹. Its objective is to assess physiologic parameters that support physical mobility and, therefore, the functional independence of elderly adults. Another possibility to measure cardiorespiratory fitness is through questionnaires, without exercise testing. Created specifically for elderly subjects, the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) is a questionnaire-based evaluation method developed to easily estimate the maximal aerobic capacity, in metabolic equivalents (METS). Based on this questionnaire, a regression equation reflecting the relationship between achieved METS by VSAQ and age results in a nomogram. This nomogram has allowed more accurate estimates regarding patient exercise capacity¹², by significantly improving the estimation of both the projected and measured peak VO₂¹⁰. Studies applying the VSAQ show an acceptable prediction of patient exercise capacity^10,13, a strong prediction of all-cause mortality in patients referred to exercise testing¹⁴, and significant correlations between estimated METs and the 6-min walk test, an aerobic resistance test^9,15,16.

Despite the fact that previous studies have shown a well-established VSAQ application in elderly people, there are no accounts in the literature investigating its use with older individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) or AD. The subjectivity of this measurement may contribute to alterations in score by mood disorders and cognitive status impairment. Furthermore, few studies in the literature are available associating subjective and objective cardiorespiratory capacity assessments, especially involving clinical populations, such as MDD and AD individuals. The purposes of the present study were to: 1) assess the relationship between the nomogram VSAQ and 2-minute Step in older adults diagnosed with either MDD, AD and healthy older adults; 2) analyze the influence of depressive symptoms and cognitive capacity on the differences among the groups for each variable; 3) compare the results of the 3 groups for all tested variables. We hypothesized that associations between both variables would be present only in the Healthy group, since mental disorders produce impairment in objective and subjective test performances and, consequently, depressive symptoms and cognitive capacity would be responsible for the possible differences among the groups.

METHODS

Study design and sample selection

In this descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study, 57 elderly subjects (> 60 years old) were recruited (20, with MDD; 17, with AD; and 20 healthy). Both MDD and AD subjects were conveniently recruited at Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Psychiatry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (CDA-IPUB-UFRJ). Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was applied to quantify the severity of dementia symptoms in AD group (mild, CDR 1 = 70.6%; moderate, CDR 2 = 29.4%). The healthy subjects were recruited at the Physical Education School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (EEFD/UFRJ). The inclusion criteria were: subjects aged over 60 years, literate, with a previous clinical diagnosis of either MDD or AD, and healthy elderly subjects with no previous history of psychiatric disease. Exclusion criteria included: depressive symptoms (in the healthy group); cognitive impairment (in the MDD group); previous cerebrovascular infarction; other types of dementia; important physical limitations by other pathologies or associated neurological diseases and severe visual and/or auditory disorders.

Ethics

All participants gave informed consent, which described all the research information and the contact of the researcher responsible for the study. This study was approved by the IPUB/ UFRJ Ethics Committee (nº 45-Liv. 3-10) and it is part of a major study, entitled “The effect of aerobic exercise on salivary levels of cortisol and DHEA in older adults with Depression, Parkinson and Alzheimer”.

Procedures and tests

All assessments were performed during a single visit to the laboratory. Every experimental procedure was explained to the participants and their caregivers. After that, subjects answered an anamnesis, depressive symptoms rating scale, global cognitive status assessment and physical activity questionnaire. Subsequently, subjects performed the functional capacity test, which was applied by either a physical education professional or physiotherapist. The cognitive assessments were administered by a neuropsychologist.

Anamnesis

A well-structured instrument was applied, containing personal data such as name, age, family history, personal history and medications used by the subject.

Hamilton Scale (HAM-D)

The Portuguese version of the HAM-D¹⁷ was used. This scale is composed by 17 items, each one ranging from 0 to 4 points, based on symptom severity. Patients with scores higher than 25 were considered severely depressed; patients who obtained scores from 18 to 24 were considered moderately depressed; scores from 7 to 17 were classified as mildly clinical depressed and scores below 7 indicated remitted or no depression.

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

The MMSE consists of 11 simple questions or tasks grouped into 7 cognitive domains. Each domain assesses specific cognitive functions. Scores range from 0 to 30 and are used to provide an individual’s present cognitive performance based on direct observation of the completion of test items/tasks. Cognitive performance is higher when higher MMSE values are reached¹⁸.

Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ)

The Portuguese version of the Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ)¹⁹ was applied to assess physical fitness without exercise. The VSAQ is a brief, easily understandable, questionnaire, consisting of a list of physical activities with scores ranging from 1 to 13, according to their metabolic equivalents (METs). The respondent indicates which of the listed activities would cause fatigue or shortness of breath. The Nomogram, developed by Myers et al., which considers age and functional capacity based on the VSAQ, was also assessed¹². The regression equation used to calculate the nomogram is given by nomogram = 4.7 + 0.97 (VSAQ, in METs) - 0.06 (age). In this study, when there was divergence between the AD patient’s answer and the caregiver’s answer, it was considered the answer of the latter.

International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)

In the present study, the short form (IPAQ-SF) was used, which assesses specific kinds of activities, such as walking, moderate-intensity activities and vigorous-intensity activities. All scores are expressed in MET-minutes/week. There are three possible classifications: insufficiently active (up to 600 METS/week); sufficiently active (between 601 and 1500 METS/week); and very active (more than 1500 METS/week)²⁰.

2-minute Step test

This test is included in the Senior Fitness Test, a simple battery of tests to assess the level of independence in Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults¹¹. Used to assess aerobic endurance, the 2-minute step is an alternate test to the 6-minute walk test, and may be used when there are space limitations. A mark is drawn on a wall or door with the use of tape, respectively midway between the subject’s patella and the iliac crest. After the signal “go”, the participant must alternate steps, without moving forward, until the scheduled time. The score is the number of times the right knee reaches the required height in 2 minutes.

Statistical analyses

The normality and homoscedasticity of the sample were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests, respectively. A one-way ANOVA, for parametric data, and the Kruskall- Wallis test, for non-parametric data, were used to conduct comparisons among the groups for each dependent variable (nomogram VSAQ and Step). To determine differences among the groups, a Bonferroni post hoc and Mann-Whitney test were applied. Multiple linear regression procedures were performed, adjusted for age and educational level and also for HAM-D and MMSE, to identify the influence of these variables on the relationships among the groups for both the nomogram VSAQ and Step test. The relationship between factors was analyzed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. The statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS^® software package version 17.0 (IBM Corporation, New York, USA). The graphic illustrations of the analyses were prepared with Graph Pad Prism version 5.01 (Graph Pad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). The significance level accepted in this study was p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The sample characteristics are shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Descriptive analyses of the samples

Groups	Healthy (n = 20)	MDD (n = 20)	AD (n = 17)	X 2	p value
Age€ (years)	64 (60 – 81)	74 (60 – 85)	78 (68 – 89)	17.868	< 0.001*
Educational level† (years)	13.5 (4 – 23)	11 (4 – 16)	8 (1 – 15)	6.315	0.043*
BMI (kg/m2)	24.83 (22.31 – 34.16)	24.83 (20.33 – 35.75)	25.14 (19.76 – 26.64)	2.715	0.257
Diseases (n)¥	1 (0 – 4)	2 (0 – 4)	1 (0 – 2)	18.945	< 0.001*
Medication (n)ۤ	2 (0 Р9)	4.5 (1 Р9)	3 (1 Р6)	17.419	< 0.001*
Women (%)	85.0	95.0	64.7
PA (level)
Insufficiently active (%)	20	45	41.2
Sufficiently active (%)	53.3	40	47.1
Very active (%)	26.7	15	11.8
HAM-D (score) ¥†	0.5 (0 – 5)	13 (0 – 26)	3 (0-13)	24.340	< 0.001*
MMSE (score)£	28.5 (23 – 30)	29 (22 – 30)	21 (12 – 28)	26.592	< 0.001*
IPAQ (METs/week)†	1038 (358 – 1680)	735 (200 – 1746)	528 (198 – 2178)	6.03	0.049*

• Values expressed as median (minimum – maximum).X2 = Chi – squared; BMI: body mass index. MDD: major depressive disorder; AD: Alzheimer disease; PA: physical activity; HAM-D: Hamilton Rate Scale: MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination. * p ≤ 0.05 = significant difference. €: Significant difference between Healthyversus MDD and AD. †: Significant difference between Healthy and AD. ¥: Significant difference between MDDversus Healthy and AD. §: Significant difference between MDD and AD. £: Significant difference between ADversus Healthy and MDD.

The subjects from the MDD and AD groups were older than the healthy subjects (p = 0.014; p < 0.001, respectively), but non-significant differences between the MDD and AD groups were observed. The AD group showed less education years than the healthy group (p = 0.022), but the difference was non-significant in comparison to the MDD group. The MDD group showed a higher number of associated comorbidities when compared to both the Healthy (p = 0.019) and AD (p < 0.001) groups. Moreover, the MDD group also showed higher medication intake when compared to the healthy group (p < 0.001). All subjects of the MDD group were using antidepressants (19 used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor – SSRI; 1 used serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor – SNRIs).

Figure 1 shows the Step and nomogram VSAQ scores for each group. A significant difference among the groups was observed for the nomogram VSAQ (Healthy group = 7.91 ± 1.87; MDD = 5.02 ± 1.64; AD = 5.43 ± 1.43; F = 17.256, p < 0.001 – values in mean ± standard deviation) and Step test (Healthy group = 60 (35-82); MDD = 41 (25-75); AD = 34 (21-69);X² = 10.153; p = 0.006 – values in median (minimum – maximum)). The nomogram VSAQ and Step test showed significantly higher values in the healthy group, when compared to the MDD and AD groups, for both variables. Only non-significant differences between the MDD and AD groups were observed for all the tested variables. Considering the cut-off point of the Step test for risk for loss of functional mobility (65 repetitions), 82.4% of all subjects were included in this risk category (Healthy group = 80%; MDD = 85%; AD = 82%). However, considering VSAQ answers, only 21% of all subjects were below 4 METs, considered as a cut-off point at risk of independence loss (Healthy group = 0; MDD = 45%; AD = 17.6%).

Figure 1
Comparisons of Nomogram VSAQ and Step Test among groups

Tables 2 and 3 show the results of the multiple linear regressions. The differences among groups remained for the nomogram VSAQ, even when adjusted for age and educational level or when adjusted for HAM-D and MMSE. However, the Step test showed non-significant differences among the groups after adjusting for age and educational level. The difference between the healthy and AD groups for the Step test did not remain when adjusted for MMSE.

Table 2
Linear regression for the nomogram VSAQ among groups

Independent Variables	B coefficient	Confidence Interval (95%)	R2	p value
Diagnostic
Healthy	Reference		0.390
MDD	-2.891	-3.950 / -1.832		< 0.001
AD	-2.478	-3.583 / -1.374		< 0.001
Diagnostic *
Healthy	Reference		0.444
MDD	-2.492	-3.612 / -1.372		< 0.001
AD	-1.698	-3.048 / -0.347		0.015
Diagnostic **
Healthy	Reference		0.398
MDD	-2.888	-3.950 / -1.826		< 0.001
AD	-2.038	-3.558 / -0.518		0.010
Diagnostic ***
Healthy	Reference		0.394
MDD	-2.608	-4.046 / -1.169		0.001
AD	-2.397	-3.543 / -1.250		< 0.001

• * Adjusted for age and educational level; ** Adjusted for MMSE; *** Adjusted for HAM-D. MDD: major depressive disorder; AD: Alzheimer disease.

Table 3
Linear regression for the Step test among groups

Independent Variables	B coefficient	Confidence Interval (95%)	R2	p value
Diagnostic
Healthy	Reference
MDD	-12.300	-21.659 / -2.941	0.208	0.011
AD	-17.632	-27.395 / -7.870		0.001
Diagnostic *
Healthy	Reference
MDD	-8.267	-18.072 / 1.539	0.291	0.097
AD	-9.794	-21.616 / 2.028		0.102
Diagnostic **
Healthy	Reference		0.283
MDD	-12.225	-21.216 / -3.235		0.009
AD	-7.279	-20.141 / 5.583		0.261
Diagnostic ***
Healthy	Reference		0.208
MDD	-13.025	-25.777 / -0.273		0.045
AD	-17.842	-28.003 / -7.680		0.001

• * Adjusted for age and educational level; ** Adjusted for MMSE; *** Adjusted for HAM-D. MDD: major depressive disorder; AD: Alzheimer disease.

The nomogram VSAQ showed a significant moderate correlation with the Step test considering all subjects. However, correlations observed for each group showed a significant relationship only in the AD group (Table 4). The healthy and MDD groups showed only non-significant correlations between the nomogram VSAQ and Step test.

Table 4
Spearman’s correlation between the VSAQ nomogram and Step test

	Step
	All (n = 57)	Healthy (n = 20)	MDD (n = 20)	AD (n = 17)
Nomogram VSAQ	0.448 (p < 0.001)*	0.121 (0.613)	0.151 (0.526)	0.608 (0.01)*

• Rs values (p values); * p ≤ 0.05. MDD: major depressive disorder; AD: Alzheimer disease.

DISCUSSION

In the present study, our objective was to assess cardiorespiratory capacity through both subjective and objective tests among older adults diagnosed with either MDD or AD and healthy older adults. Moreover, we aimed to analyze the influence of some confounder variables on the differences among the groups. Despite the lower cardiorespiratory fitness of elderly patients with MDD and AD found in both evaluations, these tests showed low correlation and very different risk classifications of functional loss. In addition, age, educational level and cognitive performance are variables that can influence the performance objective evaluation. The inferior cardiorespiratory capacity in MDD older adults observed in the present study corroborates previous findings, which have shown that MDD is associated with impaired physical skill⁵. Regarding the AD group, our data also agree with literature, showing an inferior performance in this group when compared to healthy older adults. A previous study found that AD patients had lower peak cardiorespiratory responses (VO_2peak) compared to individuals without dementia²¹. However, the fact that the healthy older adults analyzed in the present study are younger than those in the other two groups must be taken into account, since this difference might influence the results. Extensive discussions in the literature regarding the normal physiological decline in cardiorespiratory capacity during the aging process are available, and data indicate that this physical skill decreases by approximately 9%-10% per decade⁷. Although this decline is not constant across the age span, with each successive age decade this decline has been shown to accelerate^22,23.

Contrary to our expectations, the differences among groups for the nomogram VSAQ were not influenced by depressive symptoms or cognitive decline. Cognitive impairment, present in the AD group, was expected to cause an overestimated response in this subjective assessment, since this brain disorder is characterized by memory decline, disorientation, confusion and planning disorders²⁴. However, it is important to note these patients were helped by caregivers to answer this questionnaire, which can be minimized the influence of the cognitive impairment of AD patients. In this way, the cognitive decline observed in AD patients only influenced the performance of objective tests. Although the main objective of the Step test is to assess aerobic capacity, cognitive impairment may influence the results, since progressive cognition declines may cause a disorganization of the brain network that controls locomotion, leading to impaired gait time²⁵. Corroborating these findings, another study found declines in the motor function of patients with different AD stages⁶.

Underestimated results for the nomogram VSAQ were expected for the MDD group, since this mood disorder is characterized by altered self-esteem, low energy and self-depreciative tendencies, common characteristics in MDD patients²⁶. However, the early hypothesis of the present study was not confirmed, since depressive symptoms did not influence the subjective assessments. Therefore, it seems that the nomogram VSAQ may be the method that presents less influence of variables such as global cognitive status and depressive symptoms.

The data obtained in the present study demonstrated significant correlations between the subjective and objective measurements of cardiorespiratory capacity, considering all individuals. This corroborates a previous research conducted in our laboratory with healthy older adult women¹⁶, where significant correlations between the VSAQ and the 6-minute walk test, a similar test to assess aerobic resistance in elderly people, were also reported^9,15. Contrary to our hypothesis, the healthy group showed non-significant correlations between the nomogram VSAQ and the Step test. This group presented very low Step test performances, based on cut-off points for the maintenance of physical independence in older adults²⁷. Therefore, the healthy group may be classified as being at risk of functional dependence, suggesting very low cardiorespiratory capacity. However, the mean score of the nomogram VSAQ in the present study was close to 8 METs (VO_2max = 28 ml.kg^-1.min^-1), higher than the minimum of approximately 4-5 METs (VO_2max = 15 – 18 ml.kg^-1.min^-1) needed for maintenance of independence in activities of daily living in elderly subjects²². Thus, we believe that the nomogram VSAQ was overestimated by the healthy group, which seems to be in agreement with a previous study that pointed out lower VSAQ accuracy in individuals with cardiorespiratory capacity lower than 4 METs¹³. This may also explain the absence of significant correlations between the variables in the MDD group. Only the AD group showed significant correlations, contrary to our early hypothesis. Subjects with higher cognitive impairment presented lower scores in both measurements, while those with lower cognitive disorders tended to show better functional performance. This may explain the higher score variability in the AD group and, thus, the correlations between the tests. However, it is important to note that the AD patients were influenced by their caregivers to answer the VSAQ, which aided in choosing the more realistic option of cardiorespiratory capacity and, consequently, might have influenced the score accuracy in this group.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use both objective and subjective cardiorespiratory measurement tools in older adults diagnosed with MDD and/or AD, providing comparisons with healthy older adults. These tools are alternatives to the considered gold-standard method used to assess cardiorespiratory fitness (the ergospirometry test) also in clinical populations. The main objectives were to lower costs and to facilitate the application of this measurement. For example, a submaximal protocol to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with mood disorders has been demonstrated as being a satisfactory validity criterion and of simple implementation when compared to ergospirometry²⁸. However, even this submaximal protocol demands a physician and specific equipment, such as a treadmill, for its execution. Specifically for people with dementia, this measurement may be harder to perform, since they show cognitive status impairment, which is not observed in healthy older adults and those with mood disorders. This study presented an easier objective assessment tool to measure the aerobic capacity in these patient groups. In this sense, the 6-minute walk test has been considered sensitive enough to measure the endurance capacity of older patients with dementia²⁹. However, this test demands a 30 meter-length walking course, making it difficult to use in some facilities, clinics and hospitals. In this sense, the Step test has been shown as being a good alternative to assess the same physical capacity, besides showing good correlation with the 6-minute walk test in older adults¹¹. However, considering the weak correlations between the tests used in this study, it is necessary caution with these tools to clinical application, especially in healthy elderly and depressive subjects. Moreover, the majority of subjects presented at risk of functional loss, measured through the objective test, were ranked above the independence level, when measured by subjective evaluation. In addition, age, educational level and MMSE scores can influence the performance of the Step test. Using the gold standard for assessing cardiorespiratory capacity (directly measure maximal oxygen intake) remains as a more accurate option.

This study presented some limitations that should be taken into account, such as: the fact that the cross-sectional design is unable to provide a cause-effect relationship between variables; there was no direct measurement of cardiorespiratory capacity (VO_2max), recognized as the gold standard assessment for this physical skill. Moreover, even though the sample size is in agreement with previous studies, the number of subjects in each group may have influenced the results. In addition, our sample had only few male subjects per group which limits the extrapolation of the results for older men.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the lower cardiorespiratory fitness of older adults with MDD and AD could be observed through subjective and objective evaluations, the results should be viewed with caution, since the tests showed low correlation and different risk classifications of functional loss. Moreover, it is important to note that age, education level and cognitive ability are variables that can influence the performance of the objective evaluation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by grants received from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (E-26/100.274/2013, E-26/102.174/2013, E-26/112.631/2012).

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Mar 2016

History

• Received
  9 July 2015
• Accepted
  17 Feb 2016