Comparative cost analysis of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder patients in secondary care from a national hospital registry in Finland

Abstract

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) has shown to cause high costs to society. Earlier research indicates that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) also causes high costs, but only limited data is available in varying settings. Aims: To analyse the secondary care costs of GAD compared with those of MDD. Methods: Retrospective database analysis from Finnish Hospital Discharge Registers (FHDR). All GAD and MDD patients diagnosed between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007 in FHDR were recorded and individual-level secondary care costs during a 48-month follow-up period were measured. Results: The total mean cost of GAD with history of MDD or some other anxiety disorder was significantly higher than that of MDD with history of GAD or some other anxiety disorder during the 48-month follow-up period. The costs of pure GAD were comparable with those of pure MDD, but after adjusting for age and sex, the costs of pure MDD were higher than those of pure GAD. Conclusions: The economic burden of individual GAD patients is comparable with that of MDD patients in secondary care.

• Anxiety disorders
• comorbidity
• cost analysis
• generalized anxiety disorder
• major depressive disorder

Disclosure of interests

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form and declare: TK has been granted financial support for another project from Northern Finland healthcare support foundation. TY is a shareholder of Genecodebook Oy and has worked as consultant for Pfizer Oy, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) Ab and Teva Finland Oy. JJ and ML had financial support for the submitted work from Pfizer Oy. MT was reimbursed by BMS, H. Lundbeck A/S, Pfizer and Servier for attending four conferences, was paid by Astra Zeneca, BMS, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and Servier for speaking on different educational occasions, has received advisory panel payments from H. Lundbeck A/S and Pfizer for four meetings, and is a minor shareholder in Valkee Ltd. No other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.