Background: Whilst studies suggest that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) represents a considerable health care burden in Europe, there is a paucity of published evidence. This study investigated the burden of illness associated with GAD across five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK).
Methods: Information from the 2008 European National Health and Wellness Survey database was analyzed. Bivariate, multivariate, and cost analyses were used to compare patients with GAD and propensity-matched controls.
Results: Compared with non-GAD controls, patients with GAD had more comorbidities and were more likely to smoke but less likely to be employed, use alcohol, or take exercise. They also had significantly worse health-related quality of life, and significantly greater work impairment and resource use, which increased as GAD severity increased. Within-country analyses demonstrated results similar to those for the five European countries overall, with the largest differences in resource use between patients with GAD and non-GAD controls documented in France and Germany. The average mean differences in direct costs were relatively small between the GAD groups and controls; however, indirect costs differed substantially. Costs were particularly high in Germany, mainly due to higher salaries leading to higher costs associated with absence from work. The limitation of this study was that the data were from a self-reported Internet survey, making them subject to reporting bias and possibly sample bias.
Conclusion: Across all five European countries, GAD had a significant impact on work impairment, resource use, and economic costs, representing a considerable individual and financial burden that increased with severity of disease. These data may help us to understand better the burden and costs associated with GAD.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEOR.S55429 | DOI Listing |
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Despite the vast amount of water on Earth, only a small percent is suitable for consumption, and these resources are diminishing. Moreover, water resources are unevenly distributed, leading to significant disparities in access to drinking water between countries and populations. Increasing consumption and the expanding human population necessitate the development of novel wastewater treatment technologies and the use of water treatment byproducts in other areas, such as fertilisers.
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Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
The rise and resurgence of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Europe pose an expanding public health challenge, exacerbated by climate change, globalization, and ecological disruptions. Both arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) transmitted by ticks such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes like dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and Japanese encephalitis have broadened their distribution due to rising temperatures, changes in rainfall, and increased human mobility. By emphasizing the importance of interconnected human, animal, and environmental health, integrated One Health strategies are crucial in addressing this complex issue.
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