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OBJECTIVES The cutoff scores for the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) commonly adopted in clinical and research settings are based upon other neuropsychological tests. However, any intervention for depression should aim at improving subjective quality of life (QoL). We searched for a GDS cutoff level that might identify a decrease in perceived QoL using a scale that also allows formal cost-effectiveness calculations. METHODS Quality of life was assessed by the Health Utilities Index, Mark 3 in all 344 residents of Tuscania (Italy) aged 75 years and above. Mood was assessed by both the 30-item GDS and the derived 15-item GDS. The association of GDS with low QoL was analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was adopted to estimate the overall predictive value and the best GDS cutoff for poor QoL. RESULTS The 30-item GDS score was associated with increased probability of a worse QoL (odds ratio (OR) = 1.07, 95% confidence (CI) = 1.02-1.12, p = 0.003); also, it was a fair predictor of worse QoL (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.67-0.76). The best GDS score cutoff for identifying a poor QoL was above 9/30. Results were similar (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02-1.12, p = 0.003, and AUC = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.67-0.76) for the short GDS form for a cutoff above 5/15. CONCLUSIONS Among older subjects, depressive symptoms are associated with reduced QoL; GDS scores above 9/30 or 5/15 best predict poor perceived health-related QoL. These cutoff scores could therefore identify subjects in whom treatment is more likely to improve QoL and to yield a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Anemia represents a major risk factor for adverse health-related events in older persons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between hemoglobin levels/anemia and cognitive function in hospitalized older persons. Method Data are from the Gruppo Italiano di Farmacovigilanza nell'Anziano (GIFA) study. Hemoglobin levels (in g/dL) were measured upon admission to hospital; anemia was defined according to the WHO criteria. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) on admission; an AMT score

Objective Thirty percent of hip fractures occur in men; nevertheless, the determinants of osteoporosis in men are unclear. Methods We assessed the association of ultrasound-derived bone mineral density (UD-BMD) with depressive symptoms in a population-based study. We assessed the association of 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score with the ultrasound-derived T-score, Z-score, and Stiffness index in all 306 subjects aged 75 + living in Tuscania (Italy). Results In multivariable linear regression analysis, GDS was associated among men with the ultrasound-derived T-score (β = −0.09; 95% CI = −0.15 to −0.03; p = 0.003), Z-score (β = −0.07; 95% CI = −0.13 to −0.01; p = 0.032), and the Stiffness index (β = −0.90; 95% CI = −1.64 to −0.16; p = 0.018) after adjusting for potential confounders. No significant associations were observed in women. In linear discriminant analysis, the GDS score cutoff that best predicted osteoporosis was ≥19. Participants with mild to severe depressive symptoms had threefold increased probability of having an ultrasound-derived T-score