Depressive Symptoms and Healthcare Utilization in Late Life. Longitudinal Evidence From the AgeMooDe Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal impact of depressive symptoms on utilization of healthcare in terms of GP visits as well as specialist visits and hospital admission in late life among community-dwelling individuals.

Methods

Longitudinal data (baseline and follow-up) were derived from the German multicentre, prospective cohort study "Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization and costs" study (AgeMooDe). At baseline, n = 1,230 patients aged 75 years and older were recruited from primary care practices. Main outcomes of interest were use of health care services: the number of GP visits, the number of medical specialist visits, and hospital admission. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) to measure

SUBMITTER: Buczak-Stec EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9354619 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature