Press Release

Social Information Service Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Takashi Makita) has released the results of the impact of COVID-19 on adult consumers around the world based on the National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS)¹ and the COVID-19 Recontact Survey², conducted in 11 countries around the world,. Both were conducted by the affiliated US company KANTAR Co. Ltd.

NHWS is a large-scale health survey conducted in 11 countries around the world. It asks about the health characteristics and quality of life of consumers, the prevalence of more than 165 diseases and symptoms, the treatment of affected people, and the situation of the individual. The effects of COVID-19 on depression and anxiety symptoms were confirmed by comparing the latest wave of NHWS against the results from the COVID-19 Recontact Survey for the same respondents..The COVID-19 Recontact Survey also asked additional questions about online medical care (telemedicine) and other impacts due to　COVID-19.

Using the PHQ-9³ scale for depressive symptoms and the GAD-7⁴ scale for anxiety symptoms, we calculated the ratios from mild to severe (mild-severe). The result showed the average value in 11 countries around the world increased: depression increased by from 37% in 2019 to 48% in 2020. Anxiety increased from 33% in 2019 to 53% in 2020.

In addition, according to the survey in 2020, 41% of consumers in the 11 countries canceled / postponed or changed to online medical treatment (telemedicine). The content of medical treatment was less urgent, such as regular medical consultations and examinations.

On the other hand, 27% of doctors recommended online medical treatment (telemedicine), which is more than 1 in 4 people in 11 countries overall.

This tendency is high in Europe and the United States. United States was 55%, in Europe, country differences were confirmed from 32% in the United Kingdom to 63% in Spain. In East Asia, urban China was slightly higher at 40%, but South Korea was 25%, and Taiwan was 24%, which was lower than Europe and the United States, and Japan was the lowest at 12%. Although it is recognized that the consultation restraint of patients in Japan is significant, it is suggested that the situation in Europe and the United States is more serious.

COVID-19, which has become a global pandemic, is said to have brought new normal to society. Under this situation, it has become clear that people around the world who live at risk of infection have a higher proportion having mental disease. It may suggest a discussion about the need for social follow-up to this mental disease problem.

Recontact Study 2020 (Kantar. July 2020. Impact of COVID-19: A National Health and

Wellness Survey Recontact Study, 2020. New York, NY.)

Market：11 countries (USA・France・Germany・UK・Italy・Spain・Brazil・China・Japan・South Korea・Taiwan)

Sample size：6,506s

NHWS：National Health and Wellness Survey

https://www.ssri.com/service/omnibus/nhws/

¹Kantar. National Health and Wellness Survey. New York, NY.

²Kantar. Impact of COVID-19: A National Health and Wellness Survey Recontact Study, 2020. New York, NY

³Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R.L., & Williams, J.B. (2001). The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 16606-613.

⁴Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder—The GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092–7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092

• Contact Information 

Chiharu Sakai (csakai@ssri.com)
Hitoshi Dennoh (hdennoh@ssri.com)
Tel: +81-3-6709-9710

e-mail    nhws@ssri.com

•  Social Survey Research Information Co., Ltd

• Kantar Health

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Kantar Health is a leading global healthcare consulting firm and trusted advisor to many of the world's leading pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device and diagnostic companies. It combines evidence-based research capabilities with deep scientific, therapeutic and clinical knowledge, commercial development know-how, and brand and marketing expertise to help clients evaluate opportunities, launch products and maintain brand and market leadership.