Why the study?
Whether and how symptom clusters are associated with care utilization remains understudied, leading investigators to examine the economic impact of depressive symptom clusters.
How are different depressive symptom clusters associated with care utilization and costs among community-dwelling older adults?
Population
3255 older adults aged 60 years and over in Hong Kong
Comparison
Four depressive symptom clusters based on the Research Domain Criteria framework
Design
Cross-sectional analysis
Key result
A one-point increase in the Negative Valance Systems and Externalizing (NVSE) depressive symptom cluster was associated with USD$ 571 additional non-psychiatric care expenditure.
Authors
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Symptom profiles may guide care allocation in older adults; leaves open whether targeting core affective symptoms reduces expenditure.
Cross-Sectional (n=3,255)
How are different depressive symptom clusters associated with care utilization and costs among community-dwelling older adults?
Effect estimate: USD$ 571 additional expenditure per one-point increase in NVSE
Core affective symptoms of depression have a significant economic impact on non-psychiatric care expenditure in older adults, highlighting the need to consider specific symptom profiles rather than just overall severity scores for care allocation.
Lu et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in depressive symptoms (n=3,255). Depressive symptom clusters was evaluated on 1-year care expenditure (USD$ 571 additional expenditure per one-point increase in NVSE). A one-point increase in the Negative Valance Systems and Externalizing (NVSE) depressive symptom cluster was associated with USD$ 571 additional non-psychiatric care expenditure.
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