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Elderly persons with mild depression are notable consumers of somatic health services. This study describes the typical clinical pathway including institutional care of two groups, depressed and non-depressed elderly persons, in different stages of the health care system, and compares possible changes in the use of health care services between the two groups. We also compare differences in morbidity and mortality between depressed and non-depressed persons. The depressed group of 50 persons in our follow-up study were selected randomly from among those persons who were diagnosed as having symptoms of depression, as shown in the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (n = 109). Persons (n = 50) who were not diagnosed as suffering from depression and who showed no signs of cognitive impairment (n = 833) were likewise chosen at random as a control group. We found that people suffering from symptoms of depression utilized institutional care, home health care and the outpatient clinics more than non-depressed people. Depressed people were more likely to suffer cardiovascular (p < 0.023) and pulmonary diseases (p < 0.04) than non-depressed controls. The mortality among depressed people was significantly higher than that in the control group. The results of our study give reason to believe that home-care staff are in a key position to identify depressed subjects. They have to understand the relationship between depression and the effect of various diseases on health and functional capacity. It is also important to ensure efficient communication between those responsible for health care. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.

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