Healthcare use and costs in adult cancer patients with anxiety and depression

Objective Anxiety and depression are common in individuals with cancer and may impact healthcare service use and costs in this population. This study examined the effects of anxiety alone, depression alone, and comorbid anxiety and depressive disorder on healthcare use and costs among patients with cancer. Method This was a retrospective cohort analysis of administrative data of patients aged 18 or older with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis of cancer. Key outcomes were any visit to emergency department (ED), any inpatient hospitalization, length of hospital stays, and annual healthcare costs 1 year from cancer diagnosis. Results A total of 13,426 patients were included. Relative to patients with neither anxiety nor depression, those with anxiety alone, depression alone, or comorbid anxiety and depression were more likely to experience an ED visit and be hospitalized. Length of hospital stays were also longer and annual healthcare costs were significantly higher in all three clinical groups. Conclusions Cancer patients with anxiety and depression were at greater risk for ED visits and hospitalizations, experienced longer hospital stays, and accrued higher healthcare costs. Future researchers should determine whether screening and treating comorbid anxiety and depression may decrease healthcare utilization and improve turnover wellbeing among cancer patients.