Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Analysis of Data from the Eighth Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging 2020

Purpose: Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms often accompany one another, as depressive symptoms often worsen cognitive impairment. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment in Korea.Methods: This study analyzed data from the eighth Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging 2020. A total of 1,023 participants aged 65 and older were selected as participants whose scores on the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination ranged from 18 to 23. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, the Rao-Scott x2 test, and logistic regression using complex samples were performed.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among participants was 33.2%. According to the logistic regression analysis, the significant risk factors affecting depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment were having a high education level (odds ratio [OR]=1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.23~3.16), low hand grip strength (OR=1.85, 95% CI=1.12~3.08), visual impairment (OR=3.31, 95% CI=1.36~8.04), good oral health status (OR=0.97, 95% CI=0.95~0.99), and rarely having contact with one’s neighbors (OR=2.52 95% CI=1.23~5.18). Among the different characteristics(demographic, health status, social, and economic), health status characteristics were identified as having the greatest influence on depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a multidimensional nursing strategy including the regular management of health conditions is necessary to prevent depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.