Characteristics and Healthcare Burden of Patients with Schizophrenia Treated in a US Integrated Healthcare System.

Background: Schizophrenia is one of 15 major causes of disability worldwide and is responsible for more than USD 150 billion in annual healthcare costs in the United States. Although the burden of schizophrenia as measured by healthcare resource utilization (HRU) is known to be considerable, data generally come from claims databases or healthcare systems/payors representing only a subset of patients, such as Medicare/Medicaid recipients. A broader understanding of HRU across the schizophrenia patient population would help identify underserved groups and inform strategies for improving healthcare delivery.

Aims of the study: This observational study examined overall HRU and the influence of sociodemographic factors in adult patients with schizophrenia receiving care in a US integrated healthcare system.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from electronic medical records (EMRs). Patients were required to have at least two diagnostic codes for schizophrenia recorded in the EMR within a 12-month period from January 2009 to June 2018, and to have received active care (≥ 1 in-system healthcare visit every six months) for at least 12 months before and after the index date (the earlier of the schizophrenia diagnosis dates). Patients were followed until no longer receiving active care or the end of the study. Patient characteristics were assessed during the 12-month pre-index period, and inpatient, readmission, emergency room (ER), and outpatient visits and antipsychotic prescriptions were described during follow-up. Findings were reported overall and in subgroups by race/ethnicity, age, and sex.

Results: The study cohort included 2,941 patients (mean age, 48.3 years; 54.5% male, 51.8% black, 45.8% with Medicare). During the follow-up period (mean, 4.6 years), inpatient hospital stays were common, with at least one all-cause, mental health-related, or schizophrenia-related inpatient visit occurring for 48.7%, 47.3%, and 38.8% of patients, respectively. Hospital readmissions within 30 days of an all-cause inpatient visit occurred in 20.4% of patients, with 14.5% of patients readmitted within 30 days of a schizophrenia-related inpatient visit. More than two-thirds of patients had ER visits, and 40.7% had schizophrenia-related ER visits. Only 46.7% of patients with a schizophrenia-related inpatient visit and 58.5% of patients with a mental health-related inpatient visit had a 30-day outpatient follow-up visit. Subgroup analyses revealed that a larger proportion of non-Hispanic black vs non-Hispanic white patients had 30-day outpatient follow-up visits, ER visits, mental health specialist visits, and antipsychotic prescriptions. Moreover, older age was associated with fewer ER and mental health specialist visits and less use of injectable and second-generation antipsychotics, and women were less likely than men to receive antipsychotic therapy, particularly injectable medications.

Discussion: Patients with schizophrenia receiving care in a US integrated healthcare system had considerable acute HRU and suboptimal rates of routine and follow-up care. Inequities in schizophrenia burden and care were observed in demographic subgroups.

Implications for health policies: Population health management strategies focusing on efficient resource allocation and improving healthcare quality are needed to reduce the burden of schizophrenia. Differential findings by race/ethnicity, age, and sex indicate the need for optimizing approaches to care in these subgroups.