HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION (HCRU) AMONG WOMEN WITH VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS (VMS) WITH AND WITHOUT DEPRESSION: A MEPS ANALYSIS
Author(s)
Minoti Ganguli, DrPH candidate1, Josué Patien Epane, PhD2, Karl Mccleary, PhD2, Nichola Seaton Ribadu, PhD3;
1Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Public Health, Vernon hills, CA, USA, 2Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Public Health, California, CA, USA, 3Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Behavioral Health, California, CA, USA
1Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Public Health, Vernon hills, CA, USA, 2Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Public Health, California, CA, USA, 3Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA, School of Behavioral Health, California, CA, USA
OBJECTIVES: Compare HCRU among U.S. women with VMS and depression, VMS without depression, and women with neither condition.
METHODS: This retrospective study used pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2017 to 2022. Women were categorized into: VMS with depression, VMS without depression, and no VMS/no depression (reference). Univariate analyses yielded annual mean outpatient, emergency department (ED), inpatient, and urgent care visits. Multivariate analyses used a generalized linear model to estimate adjusted differences in outpatient visits and a negative binomial regression to estimate adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for ED visits. Models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, insurance, and other covariates.
RESULTS: The sample included 21,245 women with no VMS or depression, 529 with VMS and depression, and 268 with VMS without depression. In univariate analyses, women with VMS and depression had higher mean annual outpatient visits than the reference group (12.36 vs. 7.18; p<0.0001), more ED visits (0.23 vs. 0.18; p=0.03), and more urgent care visits (0.31 vs. 0.27; p=0.0003); inpatient visits did not differ significantly. Women with VMS without depression also had higher outpatient visits (11.17 vs. 7.18; p<0.0001). In multivariate analyses, women with VMS and depression had 5.2 additional outpatient visits per year (4.21-6.16; p<0.0001), while women with VMS without depression had 4.0 additional visits (2.69-5.30; p<0.0001) compared with the reference. Women with VMS and depression had a 29% significantly higher annual ED visit rate (RR=1.29; 1.02-1.63; p=0.03) compared to the reference.
CONCLUSIONS: VMS and depression are associated with substantially higher outpatient, ED, and urgent care utilization. Policy initiatives for integrated menopause and mental health care are needed that incentivize primary care screening and promote value-based care models.
METHODS: This retrospective study used pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2017 to 2022. Women were categorized into: VMS with depression, VMS without depression, and no VMS/no depression (reference). Univariate analyses yielded annual mean outpatient, emergency department (ED), inpatient, and urgent care visits. Multivariate analyses used a generalized linear model to estimate adjusted differences in outpatient visits and a negative binomial regression to estimate adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for ED visits. Models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, insurance, and other covariates.
RESULTS: The sample included 21,245 women with no VMS or depression, 529 with VMS and depression, and 268 with VMS without depression. In univariate analyses, women with VMS and depression had higher mean annual outpatient visits than the reference group (12.36 vs. 7.18; p<0.0001), more ED visits (0.23 vs. 0.18; p=0.03), and more urgent care visits (0.31 vs. 0.27; p=0.0003); inpatient visits did not differ significantly. Women with VMS without depression also had higher outpatient visits (11.17 vs. 7.18; p<0.0001). In multivariate analyses, women with VMS and depression had 5.2 additional outpatient visits per year (4.21-6.16; p<0.0001), while women with VMS without depression had 4.0 additional visits (2.69-5.30; p<0.0001) compared with the reference. Women with VMS and depression had a 29% significantly higher annual ED visit rate (RR=1.29; 1.02-1.63; p=0.03) compared to the reference.
CONCLUSIONS: VMS and depression are associated with substantially higher outpatient, ED, and urgent care utilization. Policy initiatives for integrated menopause and mental health care are needed that incentivize primary care screening and promote value-based care models.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD18
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Reproductive & Sexual Health