Medical and productivity costs of anxiety disorders: case control study

This retrospective case-control study examines the medical and productivity costs associated with a diagnosis of anxiety. The study used a data set from a large employer database that collected medical, pharmaceutical, absenteeism, short-term disability, and worker compensation records during 2000 from 6 major employers. Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders (n= 1917) were matched at a 1:1 ratio to patients not diagnosed with anxiety disorders (n= 1917) based on age, sex, metropolitan statistical area, and type of insurance coverage. Paired-difference t tests, McNemer's test, and analyses of covariance were used to compare the anxiety population with the control group. Employees diagnosed with anxiety disorders were significantly more likely to have additional diagnoses, use more services, require hospitalization, or visit the emergency room compared with the control group. Furthermore, after controlling for differences in comorbidities, employees diagnosed with anxiety disorders had significantly higher medical costs [$1555; 95% confidence interval (CI) $1066-2043], productivity costs ($1366; 95% CI $708-2023), and total costs ($2920; 95% CI $2035-3805) compared with the control group. Results indicate that anxiety disorders are associated with significant medical and productivity costs.