Comorbidities and associated treatment charges in patients with anxiety disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To describe comorbidities and treatment charges in patients receiving initial anxiolytic therapy for anxiety disorders.


METHODS
Retrospective data analysis.


METHODS
Six thousand six hundred forty-seven patients with anxiety disorders.


RESULTS
Analysis was conducted using medical and pharmacy data for patients in 26 United States health plans from the PharMetrics Integrated Outcomes database. Data were collected for 12 months before and after the first anxiolytic prescription date (index date) during the study period (January 1, 1998-December 31, 2000). The sample comprised patients with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder whose original anxiolytic prescription had been refilled within 120 days. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes and medical and prescription data identified the existence of comorbidities, and medical and prescription charges. The most common diagnoses of anxiety disorder were anxiety not otherwise specified (67%), panic disorder (14%), and generalized anxiety disorder (13%). The most commonly prescribed anxiolytics were benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (43%) and lorazepam (27%). Hypertension was the most common nonpsychiatric comorbidity (22%) and depression the most common psychiatric comorbidity (37%). Other comorbidities observed were lipid disorders (17%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9%), and asthma (7%). Total treatment charges 12 months before and after initial anxiety diagnosis and anxiolytic prescription were dollar 6279 and dollar 9270, respectively (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic conditions are commonly associated with anxiety disorders. Recognizing these psychiatric and nonpsychiatric comorbidities is important when treating patients with these disorders. Treatment charges are significantly higher when a patient is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, highlighting the impact of anxiety on the total cost of treatment for these patients.
McLaughlin
Trent
T
Outcomes Research, NDCHealth, Phoenix, Arizona 85016, USA. Trent.McLaughlin@ndchealth.com
Geissler
Erika C
EC
Wan
George J
GJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents