Incremental direct medical expenditures associated with anxiety disorders for the U.S. adult population: Evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

• Anxiety disorders absorb a significant portion of U.S. healthcare resources.
• Anxiety disorders should be given high priority in developing cost-containment policies under Affordable Care Act.
• Inpatient visits, prescription medications, and office-based visits are main cost derivatives.
• Emergency care cost is slightly higher for individuals with anxiety disorders.
• High hospitalization rate among patients with anxiety disorders needs to be investigated.

Data from the 2009 and 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) were used to estimate the annual incremental healthcare expenditures associated with anxiety disorders, for the ambulatory adult population of the U.S. Individuals 18 years and older, who reported a diagnosis of, or had a medical event associated with anxiety disorder(s), were classified as anxiety population. Multivariate regression analyses, using generalized linear models, were conducted to calculate incremental costs associated with anxiety disorders. 8.74% of adult respondents reported being diagnosed with anxiety disorder(s). The annual overall healthcare expenditure associated with anxiety disorders was estimated at $1657.52 per person (SE: $238.83; p < 0.001). Inpatient visits, prescription medications, and office-based visits together accounted for almost 93% of the overall cost. Given the prevalence of self-reported anxiety disorders in MEPS, their total direct medical expenditure is estimated at approximately $33.71 billion in 2013 US dollars, meaning this category of mental illnesses absorbs a significant portion of the U.S. healthcare resources.