Mei Hung Chi1, Chih Yin Hsiao1, Kao Chin Chen2, Lan-Ting Lee1, Hsin Chun Tsai3, I Hui Lee4, Po See Chen2, Yen Kuang Yang5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 2. Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 3. Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan. 4. Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan. 5. Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Addiction Research Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: ykyang@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions caused by relapse in patients with schizophrenia are associated with prognosis. Identifying individuals at high risk of readmission and providing interventions to lower the readmission rate are important. METHODS: Patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for the first time were recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2010 (n=808, mean age 28.9years) and compared with matched controls. Data on the demographics, cost, and utilization of medical resources of patients who were readmitted were compared with non-readmitted patients. The readmission time curve was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULT: 570 (70.5%) patients were readmitted within 10years; the median time between admissions was 1.9years, and 25% of subjects were readmitted within 4months of the first hospitalization. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or length of hospitalization between the readmission and non-readmission groups. Taking into account all psychiatric medical services, the readmission group had a significantly higher mean frequency of care and a greater medical cost than the non-readmission group and matched controls. However, there were no significant differences with regard to non-psychiatric medical services. CONCLUSION: Schizophrenia has a high rate of readmission and high medical cost in naturalistic settings. In addition to the traditional hospital-based treatment model for patients with schizophrenia, the development of an effective intervention program is important, especially in the early years of the disease.
BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions caused by relapse in patients with schizophrenia are associated with prognosis. Identifying individuals at high risk of readmission and providing interventions to lower the readmission rate are important. METHODS:Patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for the first time were recruited from the National Health Insurance Research Database from 2001 to 2010 (n=808, mean age 28.9years) and compared with matched controls. Data on the demographics, cost, and utilization of medical resources of patients who were readmitted were compared with non-readmitted patients. The readmission time curve was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULT: 570 (70.5%) patients were readmitted within 10years; the median time between admissions was 1.9years, and 25% of subjects were readmitted within 4months of the first hospitalization. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or length of hospitalization between the readmission and non-readmission groups. Taking into account all psychiatric medical services, the readmission group had a significantly higher mean frequency of care and a greater medical cost than the non-readmission group and matched controls. However, there were no significant differences with regard to non-psychiatric medical services. CONCLUSION:Schizophrenia has a high rate of readmission and high medical cost in naturalistic settings. In addition to the traditional hospital-based treatment model for patients with schizophrenia, the development of an effective intervention program is important, especially in the early years of the disease.
Authors: Maria F Strømme; Liv S Mellesdal; Christoffer A Bartz-Johannesen; Rune A Kroken; Marianne L Krogenes; Lars Mehlum; Erik Johnsen Journal: J Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2022 Jan-Feb 01 Impact factor: 3.153