Depression and service utilization in elderly primary care patients

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics
• Primary Care Medicine
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Depression is prevalent in elderly primary care patients.
• The impact of depression diagnosis on healthcare resource utilization in this population is not fully understood.
• Somatic symptoms are common presentations of depression in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between a depression diagnosis and health services utilization in elderly primary care patients.
• To investigate the relationship between nonspecific medical complaints, depression, and healthcare costs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of health services utilization data.
• Study included 3,481 elderly patients over 12 months in a primary care setting.
• Statistical analysis controlled for patient comorbidity.

Main Results:

• Depressed elderly patients had significantly higher outpatient resource utilization (appointments, tests, consultations) compared to non-depressed patients.
• This association persisted after controlling for comorbidities.
• Nonspecific medical complaints in depressed patients were associated with increased ambulatory costs.

Conclusions:

• A depression diagnosis in elderly primary care patients is associated with increased healthcare services utilization.
• The somatic presentation of depression may drive increased healthcare resource use and costs.
• Primary care interventions addressing depression and its somatic symptoms could potentially reduce healthcare utilization.