MDD is highly prevalent but under-diagnosed and undertreated in urban China, leading to significant burden on quality of life and productivity.
Low diagnosis/treatment rates signal unmet MDD burden in urban China; leaves open need for prospective studies on barriers before guiding practice.
OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence and burden of major depressive disorder (MDD) among adults in urban China. METHODS: Data were included from the 2012 China National Health and Wellness Survey. Respondents self-reporting physician diagnosis of depression and screening positive for MDD (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), plus those screening positive for MDD, but undiagnosed and not experiencing depression, were compared with non-depressed controls. Outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL), productivity loss, and resource utilization. Multivariable models assessed outcomes as a function of MDD, controlling for covariates. RESULTS: MDD prevalence was 6.0%; only 8.3% of these respondents were diagnosed, among whom 51.5% currently used prescription medication for depression. Adults with MDD (diagnosed or undiagnosed) reported significantly poorer HRQoL and greater productivity loss and resource utilization than controls. CONCLUSIONS: MDD in urban China may be under-diagnosed and undertreated. Awareness and better access to treatments may help alleviate the burden of MDD.
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Gupta et al. (2015) studied this question.
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