TY - JOUR
T1 - Depression and service utilization in elderly primary care patients
AU - Luber, M. Philip
AU - Meyers, Barnett S.
AU - Williams-Russo, Pamela G.
AU - Hollenberg, James P.
AU - DiDomenico, Tara N.
AU - Charlson, Mary E.
AU - Alexopoulos, George S.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The authors analyzed the relationship between a provider's diagnosis of depression and health services utilization among all elderly patients (N =3,481) seen in a primary care practice over 12 months. Of patients with a diagnosis of depression, 29.7% were given an antidepressant. Depressed patients had increased outpatient resource utilization, including frequency of appointments, number of laboratory tests, X-rays and scans, and consultations. This association remained significant after controlling for comorbidity On average, patients who were depressed had two more appointments per year. No difference in total cost of hospitalization was observed between the two groups. This study also demonstrated a higher incidence of nonspecific medical complaints in depressed vs. non-depressed elderly primary care patients, and all such nonspecific symptoms were associated with increased total ambulatory costs, tests and consultations. The somatic presentation of depression may contribute to the increased services utilization.
AB - The authors analyzed the relationship between a provider's diagnosis of depression and health services utilization among all elderly patients (N =3,481) seen in a primary care practice over 12 months. Of patients with a diagnosis of depression, 29.7% were given an antidepressant. Depressed patients had increased outpatient resource utilization, including frequency of appointments, number of laboratory tests, X-rays and scans, and consultations. This association remained significant after controlling for comorbidity On average, patients who were depressed had two more appointments per year. No difference in total cost of hospitalization was observed between the two groups. This study also demonstrated a higher incidence of nonspecific medical complaints in depressed vs. non-depressed elderly primary care patients, and all such nonspecific symptoms were associated with increased total ambulatory costs, tests and consultations. The somatic presentation of depression may contribute to the increased services utilization.
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U2 - 10.1097/00019442-200105000-00009
DO - 10.1097/00019442-200105000-00009
M3 - Article
C2 - 11316621
AN - SCOPUS:0035044487
SN - 1064-7481
VL - 9
SP - 169
EP - 176
JO - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -