Open AccessImpact of Mental Disorders on the Association Between Adherence to Antihypertensive Agents and All‐Cause Healthcare Costs
Author(s) -
Gentil Lia,
Vasiliadis Helen Maria,
Préville Michel,
Berbiche Djamal
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.12869
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , depression (economics) , health care , mental health , outpatient clinic , psychiatry , emergency department , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Depression and anxiety are factors associated with poor adherence to medications that lead to increased healthcare costs. The authors hypothesize that these conditions will moderate the association between adherence and healthcare costs. The aim was to examine the healthcare costs associated with adherence to antihypertensive agents in the elderly with and without depression and anxiety. The sample included participants with hypertension and used hypertensive agents (N=926). Medication possession ratio was used to calculate medication adherence. Mean total healthcare costs included costs for inpatient stays, emergency department visits, outpatient visits, physician fees, and outpatient medications. Mental disorders were assessed using a questionnaire based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. The total healthcare costs were significantly greater for nonadherent participants with depression/anxiety than for adherent participants without depression/anxiety (Δ$1841, P <.0001). This study suggests that treating mental disorders in elderly patients with hypertension will decrease total healthcare costs.