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Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Shin, JH; Do, YK; Maselko, J; Brouwer, RJN; Song, SW; Østbye, T
Published in: Soc Sci Med
July 2012

While the prevalence, comorbidity, risk profile and health care utilization for late-life depression have been described for many Western countries, much less is known about the recent epidemiology of late-life depression in East Asian countries such as Korea. We investigated predictors for depressive symptoms and the association between depressive symptoms and the utilization of both medical care and preventive services in elderly Koreans. Data were obtained from a nationally representative sample of Koreans aged 60 and above (2226 men, 2911 women) who participated in the 2008 wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale. Risk factors considered included sociodemographics, health behaviors, chronic diseases, and physical function. Health care utilization factors included hospitalization, outpatient clinic use and basic medical checkup. Being female, being unmarried, and having less education, lower household income, physical inactivity and lower weight were associated with depressive symptoms. Presence of chronic diseases and limited physical function also showed a significant association with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were associated with increased odds of hospitalization and outpatient visits, but decreased the odds of utilization of basic medical checkup after controlling for potential confounders. Findings on most risk factors, except lower weight, were consistent with reports from Western countries. It is important to recognize the burden of depressive symptoms in the elderly. The interaction of such symptoms with chronic diseases should be acknowledged and considered in the clinical setting as well as in health care planning and policymaking.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-5347

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

75

Issue

1

Start / End Page

179 / 185

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Risk Factors
  • Regression Analysis
  • Public Health
  • Psychometrics
  • Prevalence
  • Odds Ratio
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Shin, J. H., Do, Y. K., Maselko, J., Brouwer, R. J. N., Song, S. W., & Østbye, T. (2012). Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans. Soc Sci Med, 75(1), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.012
Shin, Jin Hee, Young Kyung Do, Joanna Maselko, Rebecca J. N. Brouwer, Sang Wook Song, and Truls Østbye. “Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans.Soc Sci Med 75, no. 1 (July 2012): 179–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.012.
Shin JH, Do YK, Maselko J, Brouwer RJN, Song SW, Østbye T. Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans. Soc Sci Med. 2012 Jul;75(1):179–85.
Shin, Jin Hee, et al. “Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans.Soc Sci Med, vol. 75, no. 1, July 2012, pp. 179–85. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.03.012.
Shin JH, Do YK, Maselko J, Brouwer RJN, Song SW, Østbye T. Predictors of and health services utilization related to depressive symptoms among elderly Koreans. Soc Sci Med. 2012 Jul;75(1):179–185.
Journal cover image

Published In

Soc Sci Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-5347

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

75

Issue

1

Start / End Page

179 / 185

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Risk Factors
  • Regression Analysis
  • Public Health
  • Psychometrics
  • Prevalence
  • Odds Ratio
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male