Correlation between depression and adherence to respiratory function exercise in elderly frail patients with tuberculosis: A cross-sectional survey

We investigated the current state of frailty in elderly patients with tuberculosis and analyzed the factors that influence it. Using a convenience sampling method, 120 elderly patients with tuberculosis were selected from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Lishui Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Zhejiang Province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using general demographic questionnaires, the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, aerobic capacity, illnesses, and loss of weight) screening scale, the self-rating depression scale (SDS), and a questionnaire on respiratory function exercise adherence. The influencing factors for depression were analyzed using logistic regression. The average depression score of the 120 elderly patients with frailty and tuberculosis was 54.88 ± 5.61, indicating a mild level of depression. The correlation between this score and respiratory function exercise adherence was negative. According to a logistic regression analysis, marital status and payment methods were influencing factors for depression in these elderly patients with frailty and tuberculosis. There is a need to increase respiratory function exercise adherence among elderly patients with frailty and tuberculosis who have a high incidence of depression. Medical staff should assess adverse emotions in patients and their adherence to respiratory function exercises on a periodic basis.