OBJECTIVES: The rates and costs of healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among lung cancer (LC) patients with depression and on antidepressant (AD) medications were assessed.

METHODS

: Adults newly diagnosed with LC from 01/01/2014 to 12/31/2016 with 12 months continuous enrollment prior their cancer diagnosis were identified from a large, open-source U.S. payer claims database. Patients with a claim for depression <6 months from the cancer diagnosis date were selected using a combination of ICD9/10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes appropriate for behavioral health visits (index date). Patients had to have no history of depression or AD use prior to index date. All patients were required to have 9 months of follow up from index date to capture HCRU and AD use. AD use was identified using National Drug Codes. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the HCRU rates between the LC depression (LCD) group on antidepressants (LCD+AD) versus those not on antidepressants.

RESULTS

: CONCLUSIONS

: Higher rates of HRCU and costs were found for LCD patients not on antidepressant therapy. Further research is needed to understand the treatment differences and clinical implications of co-morbid depression.