EPH86 Estimating the Age- and Sex-Standardized Prevalence and Incidence of Depression and Anxiety in UK Adults Using the THIN Database

Objectives
Depression and anxiety are leading contributors to the global burden of disease, associated with reduced quality of life, long-term disability, and increased healthcare utilisation. Understanding trends in their prevalence and incidence across demographic groups can help improve mental health policy and clinical resource planning.

Methods
We estimated point prevalence and incidence rates of depression and anxiety using de-identified UK primary care records from the THIN database (extracted by Dexter) between 2006 and 2021. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 or over and had been registered on Vision for at least twelve months. Diagnoses were identified using validated Read codes. Annual results were standardised by age and sex to account for demographic shifts over time.

Results
The age- and sex-standardised prevalence of both depression and anxiety increased from 2006 to 2021. Depression prevalence rose from 9833 per 100,000 adults in 2006 to 15599 per 100,000 adults in 2021. Anxiety prevalence increased from 6409 to 10998 per 100,000 adults over the same period. Incidence rates for both conditions remained relatively stable over time, with some annual fluctuation particularly during the COVID pandemic. Individuals of White ethnicity had the highest prevalence, with 14084 per 100,000 person years (py) for anxiety and 19678 per 100,000py for depression in 2021.

Conclusions
Findings indicate a rising prevalence of depression and anxiety in the UK adult population from 2006 to 2021, particularly among White ethnic groups. These trends may be influenced by improved diagnostic practices. Future research should explore barriers to diagnosis in underserved populations and seek to refine case identification methods in primary care.