Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37670569›Full record

ArticleJournal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle2023

Assessment of the bidirectional causal association between frailty and depression: A Mendelian randomization study.

Jiahao Zhu, Dan Zhou, Yaoyao Nie, Jing Wang, Ye Yang, Dingwan Chen, Min Yu, Yingjun Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. The effectiveness of nudge-based physical activity interventions in frail older adults: a systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Mapping the genetically predicted associations between lower-extremity muscle traits and spinal diseases.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
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  15. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Tuberculosis.International journal of rheumatic diseases · 2025
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  17. The association between PMBMC public health · 2024
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jiahao ZhuDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Dan ZhouSchool of Public Health and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Yaoyao NieDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Jing WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Ye YangDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Dingwan ChenSchool of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.
Min YuZhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Yingjun LiDepartment of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8899-916X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObservational studies have demonstrated a strong bidirectional association between frailty and depression, but it remains unclear whether this association reflects causality. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional causal relationship between frailty and depression.

methodsUsing genome-wide association study summary data, two-sample Mendelian randomization was performed to test for the potential bidirectional causality between frailty, as defined by both the frailty index and the frailty phenotype, and depression. Several frailty-related traits were additionally investigated, including weaker hand grip strength, slower walking pace and physical inactivity. Findings were replicated using an independent depression data source and verified using multiple sensitivity analyses.

resultsGenetically predicted higher frailty index (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; P < 0.001), higher frailty phenotype score (OR, 2.79; P < 0.001), lower grip strength (OR, 1.23; P = 0.003), slower walking pace (OR, 1.55; P = 0.027) and physical inactivity (OR, 1.44; P = 0.003) all were associated with a higher risk of depression. As for the reverse direction, genetic liability to depression showed consistent associations with a higher frailty index (beta, 0.167; P < 0.001) and a higher frailty phenotype score (beta, 0.067; P = 0.001), but not with other frailty-related traits that were investigated. The results were stable across sensitivity analyses and across depression datasets.

conclusionsOur findings add novel evidence supporting the bidirectional causal association between frailty and depression. Improving balance and muscle strength and increasing physical activity may be beneficial in both depression and frailty.

Indexed as

DepressionFrailtyGenome-Wide Association StudyHand StrengthHumansMendelian Randomization AnalysisagingdepressionfrailtyMendelian randomization

Identifiers

PMID37670569
PMCPMC10570069

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.