Association of motoric cognitive risk syndrome with depression in older adults: a meta-analysis and systematic review of cross-sectional and cohort studies

In an aging society, depression has become a public health challenge that can lead to many adverse health outcomes; evidence addressing the link between depression and motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR, a novel syndrome that effectively predicts dementia) is still lacking.

A PRISMA checklist was used to systematically review the relevant peer-reviewed literature for the primary data analysis. A computer search of CNKI, Wan Fang Data, CBM, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Ovid databases, all from creation to March 15, 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale instrument (NOS), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for quality appraisal. We used Q and I² statistics to assess heterogeneity and random effects models to pool estimates. Egger’s regression tests and adjustments were made using the trim and fill test.

Thirteen studies were included, including seven cross-sectional studies and six cohort studies, and data on the association between depression and MCR in the elderly were extracted. Moreover, the results of the meta-analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between depression and MCR in the cross-sectional study [OR = 2.43, 95% CI(1.31 ~ 3.54), P < 0.01]. In the cohort study, depression in the elderly was associated with the occurrence of MCR [HR = 1.19, 95% CI(1.08 ~ 1.30), P < 0.01]; Subgroup analysis by age, depression assessment tool, MCR assessment tool, and follow-up time (cohort study only) showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.01).

Meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies and cohort studies showed that depression in older adults was associated with the development of MCR, and depression increased the risk of MCR in older adults.