Correlates of rehospitalisation in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES

Schizophrenia typically has a fluctuating course; rehospitalisation is common. We studied associations between discharge variables and subsequent two-year rehospitalisation rates.

METHOD: Using a New Zealand national database, we obtained rehospitalisation rates and bed days for 451 patients with schizophrenia discharged from three inpatient facilities between July 2009 and December 2011.

RESULTS

Nearly half (44%) of the cohort were rehospitalised within two years. Patients over 50 were less likely [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35-0.97, p = 0.04] to be rehospitalised. Patients whose index admission included compulsory treatment appeared more likely (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.98-1.71, p = 0.06) to be rehospitalised and spent longer rehospitalised (p = 0.05). Those whose index admission was three weeks or longer were less likely (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.39-0.72, p = 0.001) to be rehospitalised. Antipsychotic types, routes and dosages were not significantly associated with rehospitalisation rate, except for those prescribed clozapine (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.89, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Rehospitalisation rates were higher for patients under the age of 50 and those with shorter index admissions; the latter finding requires further study. Other than the beneficial effect of clozapine, the type and route of prescribed antipsychotics did not significantly affect rehospitalisation rates.