Gerlach-Reinholz W, Drop L, Basic E, Rauchhaus M, Fritze J
Praxisgemeinschaft Gerlach-Reinholz/Hadasch, Bahnhofstraße 6, 48619, Heek, Deutschland.
Sanvartis GmbH, Dr.-Alfred-Herrhausen-Allee 9-11, 47228, Duisburg, Deutschland.
Nervenarzt. 2017 Jul;88(7):811-818. doi: 10.1007/s00115-017-0316-0.
Depression is associated with a substantial utilization of resources in the German healthcare system. A typical symptom in depression is loss of drive, which possibly contributes to non-adherence and increased costs.
The study is based on routine healthcare data and tested the hypothesis that telephone coaching in cases of depression leads to a reduction in total healthcare costs.
Based on approximately 80 covariates and using propensity score matching, a total of 1586 persons who had received telephone coaching for depression and covered by a German statutory health insurance fund were matched to a comparable cohort of patients with depression to whom telephone coaching had not been provided.
Within the study period of 12 months (3rd quarter 2012-4th quarter 2013) a positive program effect was observed for the intervention group by a significant reduction of total healthcare costs (2332 € vs. 2626 €, p = 0.0015) resulting in total savings to the statutory health insurance fund of 415,532 €. Investment costs amounted to 256,683.42 € leading to a return on investment of 1.62 € (total savings/total investment). The coaching program was well accepted by patients.
Telephone coaching for depression was able to significantly reduce total healthcare expenditure and the intervention was well accepted by patients.
在德国医疗体系中，抑郁症与大量资源利用相关。抑郁症的一个典型症状是动力缺失，这可能导致治疗不依从和成本增加。
本研究基于常规医疗数据，检验了抑郁症患者电话辅导可降低总体医疗成本这一假设。
基于约80个协变量并使用倾向得分匹配法，将1586名接受过抑郁症电话辅导且参加德国法定健康保险基金的患者，与未接受电话辅导的可比抑郁症患者队列进行匹配。
在12个月的研究期内（2012年第3季度至2013年第4季度），干预组观察到积极的项目效果，总体医疗成本显著降低（2332欧元对2626欧元，p = 0.0015），为法定健康保险基金节省了415,532欧元。投资成本为256,683.42欧元，投资回报率为1.62欧元（总节省/总投资）。该辅导项目受到患者的广泛接受。
抑郁症电话辅导能够显著降低总体医疗支出，且该干预措施受到患者的广泛接受。
