Based on existing evidence on the delay, lack of recognition, and burden of pain conditions commonly afflicting women (specifically endometriosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, IBS or migraines), CRA sought to understand how being diagnosed with these conditions impacts women’s mental health and healthcare system utilization.
Methods: Our cross-sectional study aimed to quantify the burden of endometriosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, IBS, and migraines on American women under 65 years compared to control groups of women without each condition matched by age. Five cohorts for each diagnosis of interest were generated using Komodo Health 2022 claims data, with control groups being matched on age and showing similar distributions on available data on race, ethnicity, and geography. The analysis focused on mental health-related comorbidities and healthcare service utilization in terms of prescriptions and healthcare visits.
Key Insights:
- Women diagnosed with endometriosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, IBS, or migraines have higher rates of depression and anxiety compared to control groups.
- Women with these conditions are prescribed antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications at significantly higher rates than controls.
- Most women in each cohort are not receiving indicated treatment for their conditions but are still receiving significantly more prescriptions than controls.
- Women with these conditions have significantly higher health service utilization with approximately four to eight more (non-indication specific) outpatient visits per year on average than control patients.
