Poster
40
(#40) Antidepressant Treatment Patterns Among Patients With Depression: A Retrospective, Longitudinal Analysis of US Health Insurance Claims and Electronic Health Record Data
Psych Congress 2025
Abstract: Background: Real-world data on antidepressant treatment (ADT) patterns and residual symptoms in depression are limited. Comorbidities, including anxiety and substance use disorders, can complicate depression presentation and treatment. This retrospective, observational study describes demographics and ADT patterns among patients with depression, including major depressive disorder (MDD).
Methods: De-identified health insurance claims and electronic health records from the HealthVerity database were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, ≥1 inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of depression or MDD between March 1, 2019-April 30, 2024, and continuous enrollment ≥12 months before and ≥12 months after the index diagnosis. Patients with psychosis or depression-related diagnoses at baseline were excluded. Primary endpoints included post-index diagnosis treatment patterns up to 4 lines of therapy (LOTs). Each LOT denoted continuous treatment, with initiation of a new ADT class marking the next LOT initiation. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics.
Results: Of 41,126,059 patients with a medical claim for depression or MDD, 6,315,125 met inclusion criteria, with median (IQR) age 41.0 (29.0-56.0) years, 66.0% were female, 56.3% had commercial insurance, and 34.4% had Medicaid. Comorbidities included anxiety (18.6%) and substance use disorders (14.5%). Additionally, 2,822,874 (44.7%) of patients who met inclusion criteria had ≥1 ADT claim. Median (IQR) length of treatment for LOT1 was 204 (97-452) days; 91.6% received monotherapy. 1,337,566 (47.4%) initiated LOT2, 769,110 (27.2%) initiated LOT3, and 424,823 (15.0%) initiated LOT4.
Conclusion: Real-world data indicate that approximately half of patients with depression pursue multiple LOTs to achieve clinical remission and premorbid functioning.
Short Description: This retrospective, observational study evaluated demographics and antidepressant treatment patterns among patients with depression, including major depressive disorder, using a US database of health insurance claims and electronic health records. The sample included 6,315,125 patients with data ≥12 months before and ≥12 months after their depression diagnosis. These real-world data indicate that approximately half of patients with depression initiate multiple lines of therapy to achieve clinical remission and premorbid functioning.
Name of Sponsoring Organization(s):
Methods: De-identified health insurance claims and electronic health records from the HealthVerity database were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, ≥1 inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of depression or MDD between March 1, 2019-April 30, 2024, and continuous enrollment ≥12 months before and ≥12 months after the index diagnosis. Patients with psychosis or depression-related diagnoses at baseline were excluded. Primary endpoints included post-index diagnosis treatment patterns up to 4 lines of therapy (LOTs). Each LOT denoted continuous treatment, with initiation of a new ADT class marking the next LOT initiation. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics.
Results: Of 41,126,059 patients with a medical claim for depression or MDD, 6,315,125 met inclusion criteria, with median (IQR) age 41.0 (29.0-56.0) years, 66.0% were female, 56.3% had commercial insurance, and 34.4% had Medicaid. Comorbidities included anxiety (18.6%) and substance use disorders (14.5%). Additionally, 2,822,874 (44.7%) of patients who met inclusion criteria had ≥1 ADT claim. Median (IQR) length of treatment for LOT1 was 204 (97-452) days; 91.6% received monotherapy. 1,337,566 (47.4%) initiated LOT2, 769,110 (27.2%) initiated LOT3, and 424,823 (15.0%) initiated LOT4.
Conclusion: Real-world data indicate that approximately half of patients with depression pursue multiple LOTs to achieve clinical remission and premorbid functioning.
Short Description: This retrospective, observational study evaluated demographics and antidepressant treatment patterns among patients with depression, including major depressive disorder, using a US database of health insurance claims and electronic health records. The sample included 6,315,125 patients with data ≥12 months before and ≥12 months after their depression diagnosis. These real-world data indicate that approximately half of patients with depression initiate multiple lines of therapy to achieve clinical remission and premorbid functioning.
Name of Sponsoring Organization(s):
