Minorities are less likely to receive a depression diagnosis and be treated for it than non-Hispanic Whites, according to a new study published on-line and ahead-of-print on December 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health.
Minorities are less likely to receive a depression diagnosis and be treated for it than non-Hispanic Whites, according to a new study published on-line and ahead-of-print on December 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health.
In their report, the researchers highlight, "Depression is a significant public health concern for older Americans." They continued, "If untreated or undertreated, depression can significantly diminish quality of life and increase mortality."
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 6.6% of the older adults in the United States may experience a major depressive disorder in any given year.
Their analysis found depression diagnosis rates to be 6.4% for non-Hispanic Whites, 4.2% for African Americans, 7.2% for Hispanics, and 3.8% for others races/ethnicities. After adjusting for a range of covariates using logistic regression, data suggested African Americans were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with depression by a healthcare provider compared to non-Hispanic Whites (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.53; 95% CI=0.41–0.69); and those whom were diagnosed, were less likely to be treated for depression (AOR=0.45; 95% CI=0.30–0.66).
Efforts are needed to reduce the burden of undetected and untreated depression and to identify the barriers that generate disparities in detection and treatment," the researchers said.
Among their top recommendations to address these disparities in depression diagnosis and treatment was universal depression screening and ensuring access to care in low-income and minority neighborhoods.
This study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks Top Three Drugs in Pipeline, Industry Trends in Q2
July 1st 2020In this week's episode of Tuning Into The C-Suite podcast, MHE's Briana Contreras chatted with David Calabrese, R.Ph, MHP, who is senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer of pharmacy care services company, OptumRx. David is also a member of Managed Healthcare Executives’ Editorial Advisory Board. During the discussion, he shared the OptumRx Quarter 2 Drug Pipeline Insights Report of 2020. Some of the information shared includes the three notable drugs currently being reviewed or those that have been recently approved by the FDA. Also discussed were any interesting industry trends to watch for.
Listen
FDA Sets Goal Date for Lymphoma Drug Columvi
December 5th 2024The combination of Columvi, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin is the first CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody to show positive results in a randomized diffuse large B-cell lymphoma phase 3 trial. The FDA’s decision is expected by July 20, 2025.
Read More