Depression status, medical comorbidity and resource costs

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the burden of depression, there remain few data on its economic consequences in an international context. AIMS: To explore the relationship between depression status (with and without medical comorbidity), work loss and health care costs, using cross-sectional data from a multi-national study of depression in primary care. METHOD: Primary care attendees were screened for depression. Those meeting eligibility criteria were categorised according to DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder and comorbid status. Unit costs were attached to self-reported days absent from work and uptake of health care services. RESULTS: Medical comorbidity was associated with a 17-46% increase in health care costs in five of the six sites, but a clear positive association between costs and clinical depression status was identified in only one site. CONCLUSIONS: The economic consequences of depression are influenced to a greater (and considerable) extent by the presence of medical comorbidity than by symptom severity alone.

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