Depression increases health-care costs in the first year after a heart attack by 41%

A paper from Montreal, Canada that was published in 2000. [1]

The study looked at 848 1-year survivors of an acute MI who had completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in hospital. 266 patients had BDI scores of >/=10 (30.7%), indicative of mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Total costs (out-patient physician charges plus physician costs during admissions plus estimates of associated direct costs) were about 41% higher (p = 0.004) for patients with elevated BDI scores. The difference was related to out-patient and emergency room visits and readmission costs associated with longer stays in hospital wards. It was not accounted for by use of psychiatric services or readmissions for revascularization.

1          Frasure-Smith N, Lespérance F, Gravel G, et al. Depression and health-care costs during the first year following myocardial infarction. J Psychosom Res 2000;48:471–8. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(99)00088-4