There is increasing concern over the mental distress of youth in recent years, which may impact mental healthcare utilisation. Here we aim to examine temporal patterns of mental healthcare expenditures in the Netherlands by age and sex in the period between 2015 and 2021.

Comprehensive data from health insurers in the Netherlands at the 3-number postal code level were used for cluster weighted linear regressions to examine temporal patterns of mental healthcare expenditure by age group (18–34 vs 35–65). The same was done for medical specialist and general practitioner costs. Additionally, we examined interactions with gender, by adding the interaction between age, year and sex to the model.

Mental healthcare costs for younger adults (18–34) were higher than those for older adults (35–65) at all time points (β = 0.22, 95%-CI = 0.19; 0.25). Furthermore there was an increase in the strength of the association between younger age and mental healthcare costs from β = 0.22 (95%-CI = 0.19; 0.25) in 2015 to β = 0.37 (95%-CI = 0.35; 0.40) in 2021 (p < 0.0001) and this was most evident in women (p < 0.0001). Younger age was associated with lower general practitioner costs at all time points, but this association weakened over time. Younger age was also associated with lower medical specialist costs, which did not weaken over time.

Young adults, particularly young women, account for an increasing share of mental healthcare expenditure in the Netherlands. This suggests that mental distress in young people is increasingly met by a response from the medical system. To mitigate this trend a public mental health approach is needed.

Schizophreniform disorders tend to have an early onset. Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services aim to provide early treatment, reduce long-term morbidity and improve social functioning. In 2016, changes to mental health policy in England mandated that the primarily youth-focused model should be extended to an ageless one, to prevent ageism; however, this was without strong research evidence.

An inner-city London EIP service compared sociodemographic and clinical factors between the under-35 years and over-35 years caseload cohorts utilising the EIP package following the implementation of the ageless policy.

Both groups received similar care, despite the younger group having significantly more clinical morbidity and needs.

Our results may indicate that service provisions are being driven by policy rather than clinical needs, potentially diverting resources from younger patients. These findings have important implications for future provision of EIP services and would benefit from further exploration.

To assess cost-effectiveness of late time-window endovascular treatment (EVT) in a clinical trial setting and a “real-world” setting.

Data are from the randomized ESCAPE trial and a prospective cohort study (ESCAPE-LATE). Anterior circulation large vessel occlusion patients presenting > 6 hours from last-known-well were included, whereby collateral status was an inclusion criterion for ESCAPE but not ESCAPE-LATE. A Markov state transition model was built to estimate lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for EVT in addition to best medical care vs. best medical care only in a clinical trial setting (comparing ESCAPE-EVT to ESCAPE control arm patients) and a “real-world” setting (comparing ESCAPE-LATE to ESCAPE control arm patients). We performed an unadjusted analysis, using 90-day modified Rankin Scale(mRS) scores as model input and analysis adjusted for baseline factors. Acceptability of EVT was calculated using upper/lower willingness-to-pay thresholds of 100,000 USD/50,000 USD/QALY.

Two-hundred and forty-nine patients were included (ESCAPE-LATE:n = 200, ESCAPE EVT-arm:n = 29, ESCAPE control-arm:n = 20). Late EVT in addition to best medical care was cost effective in the unadjusted analysis both in the clinical trial and real-world setting, with acceptability 96.6%–99.0%. After adjusting for differences in baseline variables between the groups, late EVT was marginally cost effective in the clinical trial setting (acceptability:49.9%–61.6%), but not the “real-world” setting (acceptability:32.9%–42.6%).

EVT for LVO-patients presenting beyond 6 hours was cost effective in the clinical trial setting and “real-world” setting, although this was largely related to baseline patient differences favoring the “real-world” EVT group. After adjusting for these, EVT benefit was reduced in the trial setting, and absent in the real-world setting.

There is uncertainty around the costs and health impacts of undiagnosed mental health problems.

Using survey data, we aim to understand the costs and health-related quality-of-life decrements from undiagnosed anxiety/depression.

We analysed survey data from two waves of the North West Coast Household Health Survey, which included questions on disease, medications, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scores (depression and anxiety scales). People were judged as having undiagnosed anxiety/depression problems if they scored ≥5 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7, and did not declare a mental health issue or antidepressant prescription. Linear regression for EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) index scores, and Tweedie regression for health and social care costs, were used to estimate the impact of undiagnosed mental health problems, controlling for age, gender, deprivation and other health conditions.

Around 26.5% of participants had undiagnosed anxiety/depression. The presence of undiagnosed anxiety/depression was associated with reduced EQ-5D-3L index scores (0.040 lower on average) and increased costs (£250 ($310) per year on average). Using a higher cut-off score of 10 on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 for undiagnosed anxiety/depression had similar increased costs but a greater reduction in EQ-5D-3L index scores (0.076 on average), indicating a larger impact on health-related quality of life.

Having undiagnosed anxiety or depression increases costs and reduces health-related quality of life. Reducing stigma and increasing access to cost-effective treatments will have population health benefits.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected depression, evidence of the role of pre-pandemic history of depression remains limited.

We investigated how long-term trajectories of depressive symptomatology before the COVID-19 pandemic were related to depression during the pandemic, over and above the latest pre-pandemic depression status. Furthermore, we examined whether those experiencing depression closer to the pandemic were at higher risk during the pandemic.

Employing data from waves 4–9 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2008–2009 to 2018–2019), we used group-based trajectory modelling on 3925 English older adults aged 50+ years to identify distinctive trajectories of elevated depressive symptoms (EDS). Fully adjusted logistic models were then used to examine the associations between trajectories and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic (June–July and November–December 2020).

We identified four classes of pre-pandemic trajectories of EDS. About 5% were classed as ‘enduring EDS’, 8% as ‘increasing EDS’, 10% as ‘decreasing EDS’ and 77% as ‘absence of EDS’. Compared with respondents with absence of EDS, those with EDS history were more likely to have depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those with enduring or increasing EDS in the previous 10 years. Moreover, the frequency of EDS was more crucial in predicting the risks of depression during the pandemic than the timing of the latest episode.

Trajectories of depressive symptomatology are an important risk factor for older adults’ mental health, particularly in the context of crisis. Older people with enduring or increasing EDS should receive particular attention from policy makers when provisioning post-pandemic well-being support.

Health technology assessment (HTA) is growing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to ensure optimal use of limited resources. However, the impact of HTAs on decision making in LMICs has been limited. The study aimed to provide an overview of Turkiye’s progress since establishing the first HTA agency in 2012.

The web sites of three national HTA agencies in Turkiye were searched for HTA guidelines and national HTA reports. The HTA guidelines were assessed by two researchers independently against the key principles of HTA developed by Drummond et al., and the HTA reports against the national guidelines.

The study included one HTA guideline and eight national HTA reports. The guideline included very limited technical guidance. Compliance with the principles was poor to moderate, and significant methodological limitations were identified. The reports were inconsistent regarding the scope and the HTA assessment criteria. The link between HTA findings, HTA decision making, and health policies were not clear.

The inconsistencies between the reports and the methodological limitations demonstrate the need for national HTA guidelines. Improving the characteristics of the HTA might impact implementation. Among the key issues is transparency regarding priority setting, the HTA process, and decision making.

Establishing and adopting national HTA guidelines at international standards is needed. Involving external scientific committees and health economists in the HTA processes might help ensure that the key principles of HTA are followed. The study findings might be helpful for countries that are developing their HTA systems.

Exploration of the association between financial concerns and depression in UK healthcare workers (HCWs) is paramount given the current ‘cost of living crisis’, ongoing strike action and recruitment/retention problems in the National Health Service.

To assess the impact of financial concerns on the risk of depression in HCWs, how these concerns have changed over time and what factors might predict financial concerns.

We used longitudinal survey data from a UK-wide cohort of HCWs to determine whether financial concerns at baseline (December 2020 to March 2021) were associated with depression (measured with the Public Health Questionnaire-2) at follow-up (June to October 2022). We used logistic regression to examine the association between financial concerns and depression, and ordinal logistic regression to establish predictors of developing financial concerns.

A total of 3521 HCWs were included. Those concerned about their financial situation at baseline had higher odds of developing depressive symptoms at follow-up. Financial concerns increased in 43.8% of HCWs and decreased in 9%. Those in nursing, midwifery and other nursing roles had over twice the odds of developing financial concerns compared with those in medical roles.

Financial concerns are increasing in prevalence and predict the later development of depressive symptoms in UK HCWs. Those in nursing, midwifery and other allied nursing roles may have been disproportionately affected. Our results are concerning given the potential effects on sickness absence and staff retention. Policy makers should act to alleviate financial concerns to reduce the impact this may have on a discontent workforce plagued by understaffing.

Health technology assessments (HTAs) of robotic assisted surgery (RAS) face several challenges in assessing the value of robotic surgical platforms. As a result of using different assessment methods, previous HTAs have reached different conclusions when evaluating RAS. While the number of available systems and surgical procedures is rapidly growing, existing frameworks for assessing MedTech provide a starting point, but specific considerations are needed for HTAs of RAS to ensure consistent results. This work aimed to discuss different approaches and produce guidance on evaluating RAS.

A consensus conference research methodology was adopted. A panel of 14 experts was assembled with international experience and representing relevant stakeholders: clinicians, health economists, HTA practitioners, policy makers, and industry. A review of previous HTAs was performed and seven key themes were extracted from the literature for consideration. Over five meetings, the panel discussed the key themes and formulated consensus statements.

A total of ninety-eight previous HTAs were identified from twenty-five total countries. The seven key themes were evidence inclusion and exclusion, patient- and clinician-reported outcomes, the learning curve, allocation of costs, appropriate time horizons, economic analysis methods, and robotic ecosystem/wider benefits.

Robotic surgical platforms are tools, not therapies. Their value varies according to context and should be considered across therapeutic areas and stakeholders. The principles set out in this paper should help HTA bodies at all levels to evaluate RAS. This work may serve as a case study for rapidly developing areas in MedTech that require particular consideration for HTAs.