Mental health and health care utilization in geriatric primary care patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the effect of mental health factors on health care utilization in a group of community dwelling elderly subjects followed in a primary care setting.


METHODS
Data on utilization was obtained prospectively from computerized billing records for a one-year period following completion of a structured survey. Relationships between variables were characterized by Spearman's rank correlation. Multivariate linear regression modeling was employed to relate health care utilization, as measured by total cost, to the baseline variables.


RESULTS
No significant relationship was found between mental health measures and health care utilization as measured by total costs in this elderly population. However, total costs were found to be related to medical comorbidity and total daily medication use.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study did not find the relationship of psychiatric distress and increased use of health care services to apply to a group of community dwelling elderly. Future research will need to focus on larger data sets and improvement of models that attempt to examine the relationships between mental health and health care utilization in the elderly.
Smith
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SL
University of Minnesota, USA.
Colenda
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014600:Utilization Review