Antidepressant use in the elderly: association with demographic characteristics, health-related factors, and health care utilization.
The characteristics of antidepressant use and its correlates were assessed in the four Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE) communities (n = 13,074). Women were significantly more likely to be treated with an antidepressant drug than men, and African-Americans were significantly less likely than whites to be using antidepressant medication. Of the health-related measures, poor self-perceived health, polypharmacy, disabilities in activities of daily living, and a history of stroke were associated with the use of antidepressants. Each utilization of health care variable, (number of doctors visits, overnight hospitalization in the past year, and use of a regular doctor), was associated with antidepressant use in at least two of the four communities. After entering variables in a multivariate regression model, higher antidepressant use was significantly associated with female gender, race, poor self-perceived health, and a greater number of contacts with doctors in the past year.
Brown
S L
SL
Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, MD.
Salive
M E
ME
Guralnik
J M
JM
Pahor
M
M
Chapman
D P
DP
Blazer
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003710:Demography; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs