An insight into depression through HealthPlix EMR

As we traverse the intricacies of a rapidly transforming world, it is imperative that we take a break and consider our mental well-being. Depression is one of the crucial aspects of mental health that has to be addressed as its rates are soaring amidst the digital age. It is reported that 1 in 20 Indians suffer from depression* and the numbers have spiked with the onset of COVID-19. The impact of this implicit crisis on the lives of numerous individuals creates an urge to gain insights to alleviate the challenging mental health condition.?

EMRs provide a data-driven approach that can lead to a better understanding of depression, and its effective treatment. It was observed from the HealthPlix EMR data that out of approximately 61,000 patients recorded, 79%** were from the age group between 40 to 70 years**. It was also observed that the women patients were proportionately higher than that of the men. According to the EMR data headache, weakness, irritability, anxiety, and reduced sleep were the most reported complaints of the patients presented with depression.

World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th, highlights the importance of comprehending the spectrum of depression in order to foster a more empathetic and supportive environment for mental health.

The EMR and the real-world data from the HealthPlix platform accentuate the insistence on addressing conditions like depression in India by enhancing data-driven intervention. The EMR’s feature of Longitudinal Rx view helps doctors take action to reduce the risk of recurrence in people who have struggled with depression in the past by keeping? track of the patient’s information more efficiently which ensures a comprehensive understanding of their mental health history.

*National Mental Health Survey 2015-2016

**Data from Jan’23 to Sep’23 was analysed.

Note: Healthplix maintains complete confidentiality of health records and adheres to applicable government guidelines. De-identified data was analysed at a cumulative level.