Physical health impairment, depression and health care utilization among older adults

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to identify differences in demographic characteristics, illness characteristics, and health care utilization among four groups of older adults with varying levels of physical health impairment and depression. Data were used from an earlier study (Badger, 1993) where eighty older adults completed questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, physical health impairment, depression, and utilization of health care services. There were statistically significant increases in utilization of some services when depression and increased physical health impairment were present. There were also some trends between usage of some services and depression alone or depression combined with moderate to severe physical health impairment. These data suggest interventions designed to alleviate depression in the elderly may reduce health care utilization and therefore reduce health care costs.