Depressive disorders have been related to increased health service utilization, but specific information about associations between health professional-diagnosed depression and the utilization of health care and preventive services in the general population is limited.

To compare the use of health care and preventive services among men and women with and without diagnosed depression in the general population in Germany.

To examine the association of diagnosed depression with the utilization of healthcare and preventive services.

Cross-sectional analysis of data from the representative telephone survey German Health Update (GEDA) 2009 and 2010 (n = 43.312 residents in private households 18 years and older). We analyzed associations between self-reported health professional-diagnosed depression (past 12 months) and the use of a range of healthcare services and preventive services covered by statutory health insurances using multivariable regressions adjusted for age, socio-economic status, marital status, employment and number of chronic somatic conditions.

Twelve-month diagnosed depression was associated with increased health care service utilization (physician contacts, hospital admissions, rehabilitation) in both sexes. Of the preventive services, diagnosed depression was associated with increased use of general health check-ups, cancer screening and flu vaccination among women, while there was no association with dental check-up and tetanus and pertussis vaccination. Among men, no association of diagnosed depression with any preventive service was found except for cancer screening.

Health professional-diagnosed depression is associated with increased health service utilization independent of somatic comorbidity and socio-demographic confounders. This includes some preventive services in women and only one preventive service in men.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.