Depression proves costly
By the year 2040, people over 65 will make up 21% of the population and consume almost half of the nation’s health care resources. New findings about the cost of depression in the elderly gain prominence as the elderly population grows.
A recent study out of the University of Washington in Seattle followed 2,500 physically healthy Medicare patients enrolled in a large HMO.1 Fourteen percent had common and persistent depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study. A two-year follow-up found the number increased to 16%, and after four years, depression plagued 18% of participants. The researchers say, "Patients with significant depressive symptoms at baseline had higher median costs for overall medical care during the first year ($2,147) than patients without depressive symptoms ($1,461)." After four years those figures reached $15,423 and $10,152 respectively.
Reference
1. Unutzer J, Patrick DL, Si G, et al. Depressive symptoms and the cost of health services in HMO patients aged 65 years and older: A 4-year prospective study. JAMA 1997; 277:1618-1623.
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