Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate health utility and work productivity across chronic pain/anxiety profiles among adults reporting past-year depression in the EU5.
METHODS: Data were from the 2025 European National Health and Wellness Survey. Adults reporting depression were classified into three mutually exclusive profiles: no chronic pain regardless of anxiety status, chronic pain without anxiety, and chronic pain with anxiety. Health utility was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L EU index and EQ-5D VAS; productivity was assessed using WPAI overall work impairment. Linear models adjusted for age, sex, country, body mass index, and employment status; sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for PHQ-9.
RESULTS: Profile counts were 48, 107, and 231, respectively; analyses included 366 respondents for utility/VAS and 142 for WPAI. Profile differences were significant for EQ-5D utility (p<0.0001), EQ-5D VAS (p=0.0001), and overall work impairment (p=0.0183). Adjusted utility was lowest with chronic pain plus anxiety (0.629) versus no chronic pain (0.815; difference=0.186; 95% CI, 0.110-0.262) and chronic pain without anxiety (0.743; difference=0.114; 95% CI, 0.055-0.173). Chronic pain plus anxiety also had lower VAS scores than no chronic pain (49.3 vs 62.1; difference=12.7; 95% CI, 6.2-19.3) and chronic pain without anxiety (57.0; difference=7.6; 95% CI, 2.6-12.7). Overall work impairment was highest with chronic pain plus anxiety (37.8%) versus no chronic pain (14.1%; difference=23.7; 95% CI, 7.1-40.3). Sensitivity analyses retained significant profile effects for utility and VAS; WPAI differences were attenuated but directionally consistent.
CONCLUSIONS: Among EU5 adults reporting depression, co-occurring anxiety and chronic pain identified a high-burden profile with lower health utility and greater work impairment. Findings support integrated management of psychiatric and physical comorbidities.