[Health Insurance in Old Age and Differences in Cognition, Depressive Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life]

Psychiatr Prax. 2018 Apr;45(3):148-153. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-116219. Epub 2017 Jan 26.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Objective: We aimed at identifying differences regarding cognition, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life between members of private and statutory health insurance (SHI) in very old age in Germany.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were gathered from the multicenter prospective "Study on Needs, health service use, costs and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)" (AgeQualiDe), covering primary care patients aged ≥ 85 years (n = 854; with 773 members of SHI). The Global Deterioration Scale measured cognition, the Geriatric Depression Scale assessed depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life was measured by using a Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS).

Results: While members of private health insurance showed slightly better cognitive function, less depressive symptoms and better health-related quality of life descriptively, regression models showed that none of these differences was statistically significant.

Conclusions: There are no differences between members of private health insurance and SHI regarding cognitive function, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in very old age.

Ziel der studie: Analyse möglicher Unterschiede in Kognition, depressiven Symptomen und gesundheitsbezogener Lebensqualität zwischen GKV- und PKV-Versicherten im hohen Alter.

Methodik: N = 854 (nGKV = 773, nPKV = 81) Hausarztpatienten (Alter ≥ 85 Jahre) wurden mittels Global Deterioration Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale und EQ-VAS untersucht.

Ergebnisse: Leichte deskriptive Unterschiede in den betrachteten Maßen erwiesen sich in multiplen Regressionsanalysen nicht als statistisch signifikant.

Schlussfolgerung: Zwischen GKV- und PKV-Versicherten bestehen keine Unterschiede in den untersuchten Maßen.

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Cognition*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health*
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life*