New Studies at ISPOR 24 Highlight Growing Impact of GAD in the US

Researchers from Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, recently presented new studies at ISPOR 2024, a prominent conference on health economics and outcomes research, held in Atlanta. These studies underscore the profound impact of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) on healthcare utilization, workplace productivity, and quality of life in the United States.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder significantly increases healthcare costs and reduces work productivity and quality of life. Alarmingly, individuals with undiagnosed GAD incur even higher healthcare costs compared to those diagnosed with the condition. MindMed's comprehensive analyses reveal the substantial economic and societal impact of GAD, which intensifies with the severity of symptoms and is particularly pronounced when the disorder remains undiagnosed.

Daniel R. Karlin, Chief Medical Officer of MindMed, emphasized the critical burden GAD places on the U.S. healthcare system, employers, and affected individuals. He noted that the impact of GAD has often been underestimated, and the disorder is frequently underdiagnosed. These studies were part of MindMed's broader mission to address the anxiety crisis and shed light on the extensive burden of GAD.

The studies utilized data from the 2022 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), which included 75,261 respondents representing the general U.S. adult population. Participants were screened using the clinically validated GAD-7 tool, as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Three main studies were presented at the conference:

1. Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Associated with GAD among Adults in the United States: This study revealed that absenteeism, presenteeism, and overall work productivity impairment are significantly higher in individuals with GAD, with severity of symptoms correlating with greater impairment. Severe GAD resulted in markedly higher absenteeism (11.4%) compared to controls (8.0%). Presenteeism and overall work productivity loss were also significantly increased with greater symptom severity.

2. Health Care Resource Use Associated with GAD among Adults in the United States: Individuals with diagnosed GAD had an average of 3.1 healthcare provider visits, 0.31 emergency room (ER) visits, and 0.19 hospitalizations over six months. Those with undiagnosed GAD, however, showed greater healthcare utilization, with 2.2 healthcare provider visits, 0.51 ER visits, and 0.36 hospitalizations. The undiagnosed group had significantly higher rates of ER visits and hospitalizations compared to the diagnosed group, indicating a substantial burden on healthcare resources.

3. Health-related Quality of Life Associated with GAD among Adults in the United States: The study highlighted that individuals with GAD have significantly lower scores in global health, mental health, and physical health composites compared to controls. The severity of GAD symptoms was associated with a greater decline in these scores, with mental health being more adversely affected than physical health.

Phong Duong, Vice President of Global Market Access, Health Economics, and Outcomes Research at MindMed, noted the significant and increasing impact of GAD on work productivity, a concern for both employers and healthcare payers. The findings suggest that undiagnosed GAD leads to higher overall healthcare costs, supporting the need for widespread screening using the GAD-7 tool as recommended by the USPSTF.

GAD affects approximately 10% of U.S. adults, translating to around 20 million people. This condition results in persistent anxiety, fear, and a sense of being overwhelmed, severely impacting daily functioning and work productivity. Despite its prevalence and significant burden, there has been little innovation in GAD treatment, with no new drug approvals since 2007.

MindMed is dedicated to developing novel treatments for brain health disorders, including GAD. The company's research highlights the urgent need for improved diagnosis and treatment options to reduce the substantial economic and societal impacts of this debilitating condition.

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