title: [Depressive symptoms and health service utilisation among persons 50 years or older in Germany. A population-based cross-sectional study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between depressive symptoms and the use of health services among people aged 50 years or older in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from the German subsample of the "Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)", comprising a nationally representative sample of 2890 German residents aged 50 years or older (mean age 65 years, 55 % women). The cross-sectional association between depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale ≥ 4 points) and health service use was examined by multivariable regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Depressive symptoms were found in 21 % of respondents and were associated with a higher utilisation of health care services (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.2 - 4.3) and social care services (OR 2.6, 95 % CI 1.5 - 4.7) even after adjusting for sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, cognitive function and indicators of physical health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants with depressive symptoms had a higher service utilisation independent of somatic comorbidity and other potential confounders.
authors.affiliation: Die Institute sind am Ende des Artikels gelistet. BuschM@rki.de
authors.forename: Markus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neuner
authors.forename: Marion C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aichberger
authors.forename: Ulfert
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hapke
authors.forename: Steffi G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Riedel-Heller
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009739:Nursing Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014600:Utilization Review