The Effect of Depressive Symptoms in Elderly on General and Cancer Health Screening Participation

Objective: In this study, we investigate the effect of depressive symptoms in elderly on general and cancer health screening participation using the large epidemiological study data in South Korea. Methods: This study was conducted on 1,977 people who responded to a health examination questionnaire among 2,360 adults aged 60 or older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2020. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and classified as minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), and moderate and severe (10-27). To investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and health screening participation, a multiple logistic regression model controlling covariates was used. Results: Compared to the group with minimal depressive symptoms, the mild group did not show a significant difference (odd ratio [OR]=0.71, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=0.45-1.13), but the moderate to severe group showed a significant negative relationship with general health screening participation (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.35-0.99). There was a significant negative relationship between depressive symptoms and cancer health screening participation (mild group OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.48-1.23; moderate to severe group OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.28-0.87). Conclusion: This study showed that people with depressive symptoms are less likely to get a general and cancer health screening. In order to promote health screening participation, policies that consider health behavior promotion programs and psychiatric interventions targeting moderate to severe depressive symptom groups are necessary