OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare healthcare costs among subgroups with diagnosed mental disorder (MD), different depressive symptoms, gender and age groups.

METHODS: Representative cross-sectional, online, self-completed questionnaire survey was carried out in 2021 among the Hungarian population. As part of a larger survey, healthcare resource utilization (direct medical eg. GP visit, hospital admission and direct non-medical eg. informal care and indirect eg. absenteeism, presenteeism) and mental health conditions, sociodemographic data were collected. Depression measurement tool was used to rate the severity of symptoms. Healthcare costs were calculated 2000 replications bootstrap testing with accelerated bias correction.

RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 2000 respondents. The mean age of the sample was 47 (16.9) years, majority was female (57.3%). Participants with diagnosed MD were 420, 21% of total sample. The prevalence of no, mild/moderate and moderately severe/severe depression was 53.1%, 36.8%, 10.2%, respectively. The mean annual total cost per respondents was €3007 in 2021. Individuals without diagnosed MD and with diagnosed MD, the average annual direct medical and direct non-medical and indirect costs were €332, €1,494 and €156, €1,194 and €1,728, €3,294, respectively. In the subgroups with no, mild/moderate and moderately severe/severe depression, the mean annual direct medical and direct non-medical and indirect costs were calculated €249, €900, €1,113 and €58, €245, €2,478 and €1,105, €2,854, €4,138, respectively. Mean direct medical and direct non-medical and indirect costs per male and female members per year were €651, €521 and €611, €197 and €2,348, €1,840, respectively. In the 35-44 age group, the annual direct medical and direct non-medical costs were the highest, with on average €961 and €1,305. The greatest indirect cost was €3,256 in 45-54 age.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study has confirmed the higher mean healthcare costs among respondents with more severe symptoms of depression and diagnosed MD.