Depression Treatment Patterns among Elderly with Cancer

Table 1

Description of study sample with reported cancer and diagnosed depression. Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, 2000–2005.

	N	Weighted %
Year
2000	125	13.1
2001	127	14.3
2002	170	18.7
2003	158	18.9
2004	147	18.2
2005	138	16.8
Gender
Female	593	69.5
Male	272	30.5
Race/ethnicity
White	783	90.5
African American	27	3.0
Latino	32	4.1
Other	23	2.4
Age in years
65–69	113	14.2
70–74	183	25.0
75–79	202	26.9
80+	367	33.9
Marital status
Married	382	45.5
Widowed	370	41.5
Divorced/separated	87	10.6
Other	26	2.5
Community status
Urban	635	76.7
Rural	230	23.3
Education
Less than high school	221	25.6
High school	308	36.1
Some college	146	16.9
College	186	21.4
Poverty status
LT 200%	427	47.8
≥200%	438	52.2
Prescription drug coverage
Yes	683	80.1
No	182	19.9
Health status
Excellent/very good	64	7.0
Good	191	22.6
Fair/poor	107	12.5
Functional status (ADL)
No difficulties with ADLs	478	55.9
1-2	236	27.0
3–6	149	17.1
Smoking status
Current smoker	73	9.0
Past smoker	452	52.7
Never smoked	340	38.2
Body mass index
Underweight/normal	383	42.1
Overweight	308	35.9
Obese	168	22.0

Note: Based on 865 person—years of elderly Medicare beneficiaries with reported cancer and diagnosed depression.
ADL: activity of daily living.