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Diagnosed depression and utilization of healthcare and preventive services in the general adult population in Germany

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

U. Maske*
Affiliation:
Robert Koch Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
J. Maren
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, Division Public Health: Prevention and Psychosocial Health Research, Berlin, Germany
U. Hapke
Affiliation:
Robert Koch Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
D. Kleiber
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Education and Psychology, Division Public Health: Prevention and Psychosocial Health Research, Berlin, Germany
M.A. Busch
Affiliation:
Robert Koch Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Depressive disorders have been related to increased health service utilization, but specific information about associations between health professional-diagnosed depression and the utilization of health care and preventive services in the general population is limited.

Objectives

To compare the use of health care and preventive services among men and women with and without diagnosed depression in the general population in Germany.

Aims

To examine the association of diagnosed depression with the utilization of healthcare and preventive services.

Methods

Cross-sectional analysis of data from the representative telephone survey German Health Update (GEDA) 2009 and 2010 (n = 43.312 residents in private households 18 years and older). We analyzed associations between self-reported health professional-diagnosed depression (past 12 months) and the use of a range of healthcare services and preventive services covered by statutory health insurances using multivariable regressions adjusted for age, socio-economic status, marital status, employment and number of chronic somatic conditions.

Results

Twelve-month diagnosed depression was associated with increased health care service utilization (physician contacts, hospital admissions, rehabilitation) in both sexes. Of the preventive services, diagnosed depression was associated with increased use of general health check-ups, cancer screening and flu vaccination among women, while there was no association with dental check-up and tetanus and pertussis vaccination. Among men, no association of diagnosed depression with any preventive service was found except for cancer screening.

Conclusions

Health professional-diagnosed depression is associated with increased health service utilization independent of somatic comorbidity and socio-demographic confounders. This includes some preventive services in women and only one preventive service in men.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
EW255
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2016
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