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. 2023 Jun;93(7):2081-2090.
doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-02370-8. Epub 2022 Nov 11.

Incidence of anxiety and depression in children and young people with life-limiting conditions

Mary M Barker  1   2 , Bryony Beresford  3   4 , Lorna K Fraser  3
Affiliations

Incidence of anxiety and depression in children and young people with life-limiting conditions

Mary M Barker et al. Pediatr Res. 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression in children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Methods: A comparative cohort study was conducted, using primary and secondary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) in England. Anxiety and depression codes were identified using diagnostic, symptom and prescription codes. Incidence rates of anxiety and depression were compared across condition groups using Poisson regression, adjusting for sex, age, ethnicity, and deprivation status.

Results: A total of 25,313 children and young people were included in the study: 5527 with life-limiting conditions, 6729 with chronic conditions, and 13,057 with no long-term conditions. The incidence of anxiety (IRRadj: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.77) and depression (IRRadj: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.08-1.83) was significantly higher in children and young people with life-limiting conditions, compared to children and young people with no long-term conditions.

Conclusions: The higher incidence of anxiety and depression observed among children and young people with life-limiting conditions highlights the need for psychological support in this population, including further efforts to prevent, identify, and treat anxiety and depression.

Impact: The analysis of primary and secondary healthcare data from England revealed that the incidence of anxiety and depression was higher among children and young people with life-limiting conditions, compared to those with no long-term conditions. This is the first study to investigate the incidence of anxiety and depression in children and young people with a wide range of life-limiting conditions. The higher incidence of anxiety and depression observed in children and young people with life-limiting conditions highlights the need for psychological support aiming to prevent, identify, and treat anxiety and depression in this population group.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Anxiety case definition algorithm.
Algorithm showing the codes/combinations of codes and associated time restrictions used to define a case of anxiety.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Depression case definition algorithm.
Algorithm showing the codes/combinations of codes and associated time restrictions used to define a case of depression.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Code types recorded for children and young people with incidence anxiety and depression.
Venn diagrams showing the types of codes recorded for children and young people with incident (a) anxiety and (b) depression.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. Incidence rates of anxiety and depression, stratified by condition group.
Incidence rates of (a) anxiety and (b) depression in children and young people with life-limiting conditions (blue square), chronic conditions (blue circle) and no long-term conditions (green diamond).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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