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Late-life depression is associated with an increased risk of multimorbidity and polypharmacy.
Holvast, F., Hattem, B.A. van, Verhaak, P.F.M. Late-life depression is associated with an increased risk of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Bipolar Disorders: 2016, 18(S1), p..
Background and Aims
Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy. This may complicate medical treatment of older depressed patients. We aimed to determine the risk on multimorbidity and polypharmacy among older depressed primary care patients.
Methods
Cross-sectional study in primary care in 2012. Depressed patients aged ≥60 years were matched on age and gender to patients with other psychological diagnoses and to mentally healthy controls. Morbidity data was combined with data on medication use. We performed regression analyses to determine the association between depression, and chronic diseases and chronically used drugs.
Results
We included 4,477 patients; 1,512 depressed patients, 1,497 patients with other psychological diagnoses, and 1,508 mentally healthy controls. Depressed patients had a 16% (95% CI: 10– 24%) higher rate of chronic somatic diseases and had higher odds for multimorbidity (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.33–1.81) compared to mentally healthy controls. No difference existed between depressed patients and patients with other psychological diagnoses. Compared to mentally healthy controls, depressed patients had a 45% (95% CI: 39–53%) higher rate of chronically used drugs and had higher odds for polypharmacy (OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 2.41–3.47). Comparable trends were found comparing depressed patients to patients with other psychological diagnoses (IRR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.29; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.98).
Conclusions
Depression in older primary care patients is associated with the use of more drugs even beyond the higher rate of comorbid somatic diseases. General practitioners should consider medication reviews in order to prevent unnecessary polypharmacy in these vulnerable patients.
Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy. This may complicate medical treatment of older depressed patients. We aimed to determine the risk on multimorbidity and polypharmacy among older depressed primary care patients.
Methods
Cross-sectional study in primary care in 2012. Depressed patients aged ≥60 years were matched on age and gender to patients with other psychological diagnoses and to mentally healthy controls. Morbidity data was combined with data on medication use. We performed regression analyses to determine the association between depression, and chronic diseases and chronically used drugs.
Results
We included 4,477 patients; 1,512 depressed patients, 1,497 patients with other psychological diagnoses, and 1,508 mentally healthy controls. Depressed patients had a 16% (95% CI: 10– 24%) higher rate of chronic somatic diseases and had higher odds for multimorbidity (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.33–1.81) compared to mentally healthy controls. No difference existed between depressed patients and patients with other psychological diagnoses. Compared to mentally healthy controls, depressed patients had a 45% (95% CI: 39–53%) higher rate of chronically used drugs and had higher odds for polypharmacy (OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 2.41–3.47). Comparable trends were found comparing depressed patients to patients with other psychological diagnoses (IRR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.29; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.98).
Conclusions
Depression in older primary care patients is associated with the use of more drugs even beyond the higher rate of comorbid somatic diseases. General practitioners should consider medication reviews in order to prevent unnecessary polypharmacy in these vulnerable patients.
Background and Aims
Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy. This may complicate medical treatment of older depressed patients. We aimed to determine the risk on multimorbidity and polypharmacy among older depressed primary care patients.
Methods
Cross-sectional study in primary care in 2012. Depressed patients aged ≥60 years were matched on age and gender to patients with other psychological diagnoses and to mentally healthy controls. Morbidity data was combined with data on medication use. We performed regression analyses to determine the association between depression, and chronic diseases and chronically used drugs.
Results
We included 4,477 patients; 1,512 depressed patients, 1,497 patients with other psychological diagnoses, and 1,508 mentally healthy controls. Depressed patients had a 16% (95% CI: 10– 24%) higher rate of chronic somatic diseases and had higher odds for multimorbidity (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.33–1.81) compared to mentally healthy controls. No difference existed between depressed patients and patients with other psychological diagnoses. Compared to mentally healthy controls, depressed patients had a 45% (95% CI: 39–53%) higher rate of chronically used drugs and had higher odds for polypharmacy (OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 2.41–3.47). Comparable trends were found comparing depressed patients to patients with other psychological diagnoses (IRR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.29; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.98).
Conclusions
Depression in older primary care patients is associated with the use of more drugs even beyond the higher rate of comorbid somatic diseases. General practitioners should consider medication reviews in order to prevent unnecessary polypharmacy in these vulnerable patients.
Late-life depression often coincides with chronic somatic diseases and, consequently, with polypharmacy. This may complicate medical treatment of older depressed patients. We aimed to determine the risk on multimorbidity and polypharmacy among older depressed primary care patients.
Methods
Cross-sectional study in primary care in 2012. Depressed patients aged ≥60 years were matched on age and gender to patients with other psychological diagnoses and to mentally healthy controls. Morbidity data was combined with data on medication use. We performed regression analyses to determine the association between depression, and chronic diseases and chronically used drugs.
Results
We included 4,477 patients; 1,512 depressed patients, 1,497 patients with other psychological diagnoses, and 1,508 mentally healthy controls. Depressed patients had a 16% (95% CI: 10– 24%) higher rate of chronic somatic diseases and had higher odds for multimorbidity (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.33–1.81) compared to mentally healthy controls. No difference existed between depressed patients and patients with other psychological diagnoses. Compared to mentally healthy controls, depressed patients had a 45% (95% CI: 39–53%) higher rate of chronically used drugs and had higher odds for polypharmacy (OR: 2.89; 95% CI: 2.41–3.47). Comparable trends were found comparing depressed patients to patients with other psychological diagnoses (IRR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.18–1.29; OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.39–1.98).
Conclusions
Depression in older primary care patients is associated with the use of more drugs even beyond the higher rate of comorbid somatic diseases. General practitioners should consider medication reviews in order to prevent unnecessary polypharmacy in these vulnerable patients.