Abstract

The influences of depression and health anxieth on the elderly's drug use and nutritional status were evaluated by interviews with questionaire from August to October in 1996. One hundred and thirty-one male and 231 female elderly in Chung-buk area were the sample for this study. Men's depression score was 22.3 and 25.2 for women, respectively out of 27. Women showed a significantly higher score for depression and health anxiety than men. Gender, age, marital status, number of family, education, income, medical insurance, and mobility and region significantly affected the health anxiety score. The higher depression score the elderly had, the more frequently they took drugs. Conversely. the higher depression score the elderly had, the less frequently they took nutritional supplements. For women, the higher depression score the elderly had, the more they smoked. More depressed elderly showed a significantly smaller BMI compared to the less depressed ones. A negative correlationship existed between the depression score and the elderly's nutrient intakes, especially energy intake which showed a significant negative correlation. There were no significant differences between health anxiety score and nutrient intakes of men. Women who had a higher health anxiety score consumed more energy significantly. The depression score did not affect the elderly's blood biochemical indices. Women who had a low health anxiety score showed a significantly higher HDL-C level.

• Keywords: elderly; drug consumption; nutritional status; depression; health anxiety