Antidepressant use in the elderly: association with demographic characteristics, health-related factors, and health care utilization.

The characteristics of antidepressant use and its correlates were assessed in the four Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE) communities (n = 13,074). Women were significantly more likely to be treated with an antidepressant drug than men, and African-Americans were significantly less likely than whites to be using antidepressant medication. Of the health-related measures, poor self-perceived health, polypharmacy, disabilities in activities of daily living, and a history of stroke were associated with the use of antidepressants. Each utilization of health care variable, (number of doctors visits, overnight hospitalization in the past year, and use of a regular doctor), was associated with antidepressant use in at least two of the four communities. After entering variables in a multivariate regression model, higher antidepressant use was significantly associated with female gender, race, poor self-perceived health, and a greater number of contacts with doctors in the past year.