This analysis explores factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes following treatment for a depressive episode.

FINDER was a prospective, observational study evaluating HRQoL in 3,468 depressed outpatients receiving antidepressant (AD) treatment. Patients completed the Short-Form-Health-Survey (SF-36) and European-Quality-of-life-5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire at baseline, 3 and 6-months. SF-36 is summarised with the Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS and MCS) scores. AD medication was recorded at each observation, and patients completed ratings on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Somatic Symptom Inventory (SSI-28) and pain severity Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Multivariate analysis for HRQoL outcomes was performed.

In addition to the respective baseline HRQoL score, somatic symptoms had the strongest association with SF-36 MCS; age and the presence of chronic medical conditions had the strongest association with PCS (all p<0.001). Variables most strongly associated with EQ-5D, besides their respective baseline scores, were somatic symptoms and pain severity, as well as duration of current depression (all p<0.001). AD treatment was significantly associated with

SF-36 MCS and EQ-5D VAS (all p<0.001). Switching medication within class during 6 months was significantly associated with poorer outcomes on all HRQoL measures (all p<0.001) compared to not switching.

HRQoL at treatment initiation and somatic symptoms were associated with the level of improvement in HRQoL observed in depressed outpatients over the course of 6 months. Treatment switching, duration of episode and pain were also important factors to consider.

FINDER was supported by Eli Lilly and Company Limited & Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH