Health Related Quality of Life in Major Depressive Disorder: evolution in time and factors associated

Abstract

Introduction. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent mental disorder. We aimed to analyze which factors were associated to their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) perception in patients diagnosed of MDD and how they evolved over six months.

Methods. We included 432 subjects with MDD (DSMIV-TR) from hospital consultations, mental health centres and primary care centres in Basque Country, Madrid and Canary Islands. Patients were followed for 6 months. Clinical, sociodemographic and therapeutic variables were collected. HRQoL was measured by EQ-5D-5L, expressed as “utilities”. Generalized Linear Models were constructed to meet the objectives.

Results. Women, older people, disadvantaged social groups and those with higher “physical comorbidity” expressed a worse HRQoL at inclusion. At 6 months, 305 subjects remained in follow-up. The average change in “utilities” was 0.033 (CI95%: 0.008-0.059), and 0.132 (CI95%: 0.093-0.171) in the 109 subjects (35.51%) who expressed improvement in their health status. “Physical comorbidity”, the presence of eating disorders, older age, belonging to disadvantaged socioeconomic groups or the need for greater therapeutic effort were negatively associated with HRQoL evolution.

Conclusion. MDD is associated with a great impact on HRQoL, which partially reverts when the patients showed good clinical evolution. Older age, comorbidity and disadvantaged socioeconomic group are associated with a worse evolution of HRQOoL.