PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to determine if differences in service use exist between dementia patients with and without psychiatric comorbidity. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries seen at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center with a VA Outpatient Clinic File diagnosis of dementia in 1997. The primary dependent measure was amount of Houston VA health service use from study entry until the end of fiscal year 1999 or until death. RESULTS: Of the 864 dementia patients in the identified cohort, two thirds had a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Examination of 2-year health service use revealed that, after adjusting for demographic and medical comorbidity differences, dementia patients with psychiatric comorbidity had increased medical and psychiatric inpatient days of care and more psychiatric outpatient visits compared with patients without psychiatric comorbidity. IMPLICATIONS: Further understanding of the current health service use of dementia patients with psychiatric comorbidity may help to establish a framework for considering change in the current system of care. A coordinated system of care with interdisciplinary teamwork may provide both cost-effective and optimal treatment for dementia patients.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to determine if differences in service use exist between dementiapatients with and without psychiatric comorbidity. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries seen at the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center with a VA Outpatient Clinic File diagnosis of dementia in 1997. The primary dependent measure was amount of Houston VA health service use from study entry until the end of fiscal year 1999 or until death. RESULTS: Of the 864 dementiapatients in the identified cohort, two thirds had a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Examination of 2-year health service use revealed that, after adjusting for demographic and medical comorbidity differences, dementiapatients with psychiatric comorbidity had increased medical and psychiatric inpatient days of care and more psychiatricoutpatient visits compared with patients without psychiatric comorbidity. IMPLICATIONS: Further understanding of the current health service use of dementiapatients with psychiatric comorbidity may help to establish a framework for considering change in the current system of care. A coordinated system of care with interdisciplinary teamwork may provide both cost-effective and optimal treatment for dementiapatients.
Authors: Andrea Bradford; Mark E Kunik; Paul Schulz; Susan P Williams; Hardeep Singh Journal: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord Date: 2009 Oct-Dec Impact factor: 2.703
Authors: Yuki Tomonaga; Josef Haettenschwiler; Martin Hatzinger; Edith Holsboer-Trachsler; Michael Rufer; Urs Hepp; Thomas D Szucs Journal: Pharmacoeconomics Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 4.981
Authors: Nicole R Fowler; Lisa A Morrow; Li-Chuan Tu; Douglas P Landsittel; Beth E Snitz; Eric G Rodriquez; Judith A Saxton Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2012-02-11