(273) Assessment of the impact of physical injuries on mental health among commercially insured workers’ compensation beneficiaries.

Background: : Workplace injuries remain a major challenge for employers and insurers, often leading to prolonged recovery and higher healthcare costs. Emerging evidence shows that mental health (MH) conditions like depression and anxiety frequently co-occur with physical injuries, complicating recovery and increasing resource use. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between physical injuries and subsequent MH conditions within the commercially insured workers’ compensation population.

Objective: : To evaluate healthcare resource utilization among commercially insured workers’ compensation members who experienced a physical injury followed by a MH condition.

Methods: : A retrospective claims analysis was conducted using workers’ compensation data from Jan 01 to Dec 31, 2024. Members were grouped into two cohorts: injury only, and injury followed by MH condition. The index date was the first eligible injury-related prescription, with a 12-month washout period. Descriptive analysis assessed demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results: : A total of 326,636 eligible members were identified. Of these, 69.0% had injury-only claims, and 5.3% had both injury and MH claims. Among those with injury claims, 7.8% later developed an MH condition. The average age was 49 years in the injury-only group and 56 years in the injury + MH group; 55–58% were male. Most members were over 35 years old: 84.3% in the injury-only group and 94.3% in the injury + MH group. Common injury types in injury-only vs. injury + MH groups included: strains (34% vs. 25%), sprains (15% vs. 11%), contusions (11% vs. 8%), fractures (6% vs. 7%), and multiple injuries (3.4% vs. 4.7%).
Among those who developed MH conditions, the most prescribed therapeutic classes were antidepressants (73.0%), antianxiety agents (26.3%), sedatives (12.9%), antipsychotics (5.4%), neurological agents (2.9%), and anti-narcolepsy meds (2.6%). Per member per year (PMPY) costs were significantly higher in the injury + MH group, averaging $7,295.37 vs. $369.81 in the injury-only group.

Conclusions: : Most affected members were middle-aged or older and often had multiple chronic conditions. Resource utilization was substantially higher among those who developed MH conditions post-injury. These findings highlight the importance of early MH identification and intervention in injured workers. Targeted support programs and early-stage therapies may improve outcomes and reduce preventable healthcare costs.

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