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Health-related quality of life and utilities in primary-care patients with generalized anxiety disorder

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Abstract

Background

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is prevalent and significantly impacts patient health-related quality of life (HRQL) and disability.

Purpose

This study evaluated the effect of GAD and anxiety symptom severity on the HRQL of primary-care patients with GAD.

Methods

Patients 18 years or older with GAD were recruited from an integrated health care delivery system. Clinical assessments included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), GAD Questionnaire-IV (GAD-Q-IV), and the Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ). HRQL was assessed by the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire—Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), SF-12 Health Survey (SF-6D), and the Health Utilities Index (HUI2, HUI3).

Results

The sample included 297 patients, 72% women with mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 47.6 ± 13.7 years. At baseline, the mean HAM-A score was 16.8 ± 7.6 (suggesting the presence of moderate anxiety symptoms). Anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly correlated with mental component summary (MCS), Q-LES-Q-SF, SDS, SF-6D, HUI2, and HUI3 scores (all P < 0.001). The mean HRQL and all of the preference-based measures varied significantly by anxiety severity groups (all P < 0.001). Anxiety and depression symptoms significantly predicted HRQL and preference-based scores (R 2 values ranged from 0.22 to 0.57).

Conclusions

Anxiety symptoms reported by GAD patients resulted in significant impairment to HRQL and functional outcomes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health Outcomes Research, United Biosource Corporation, 7101 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 600, 20814, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Dennis A. Revicki & Louis Matza

  2. Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA

    Nancy Brandenburg

  3. The Center for Health Research, Northwest/Hawaii/Southeast, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, OR, USA

    Mark C. Hornbrook & David Feeny

  4. Health Utilities Incorporated, Dundas, ON, Canada

    David Feeny

Authors
  1. Dennis A. Revicki
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  2. Nancy Brandenburg
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  3. Louis Matza
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  4. Mark C. Hornbrook
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  5. David Feeny
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Correspondence to Dennis A. Revicki.

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Revicki, D.A., Brandenburg, N., Matza, L. et al. Health-related quality of life and utilities in primary-care patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Qual Life Res 17, 1285–1294 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9406-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9406-6

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