Prolonged length of stay in acute psychiatric wards: A descriptive study

• Type: Summary of Presentation in an International Conference
• Date: 2021

Authors

Lopes, L (Author) Other; Goncalves Pinho, M (Author) FMUP; Pereira, S (Author) Other; Ribeiro, JP (Author) Other; Freitas A (Author) FMUP

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-F1R

DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.343

Abstract (EN): <jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1028" sec-type="intro"><jats:title>Introduction</jats:title><jats:p>The psychiatric care paradigm has shifted towards community-centered models. Yet, prolonged hospitalizations are still a reality, with debated impact at healthcare systems and patients.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1029"><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>This work aims to describe prolonged hospitalizations in acute psychiatric wards through patients¿ sociodemographic and clinical data.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1030" sec-type="methods"><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We analyzed a national hospitalization database that contained all hospitalization episodes registered in Portuguese public hospitals from 2008 to 2015. All episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental disorder defined as ICD-9-CM codes 290.x-319.x were included. Prolonged hospitalizations were defined as having a LoS ¿ P97.5; LOS ¿180 days or LOS ¿1 year. Age, sex, lengh of stay, in-hospital mortality were analysed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1031" sec-type="results"><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The LoS ¿ P97.5(¿62 days) group comprised 3911 hospitalizations (2.3% of all psychiatric hospitalizations) and 1755 patients. The median LOS was 81 days and the mean age was 51 years. Sex was equally distributed, though a higher frequency of male patients was found on the ¿180 days (n=364) and ¿ 1 year (n=121) groups. Psychotic disorders were the main diagnosis at discharge (n= 1769, 45.2%), followed by mood disorders (n=1057, 27.0%) and dementia (n=451, 11.5%). In-hospital mortality increased in the higher LoS groups (1.1%; 4.4%; 9.1%, respectively).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1032" sec-type="conclusions"><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p>Overall, middle aged patients with psychotic disorders represent most of the prolonged hospitalizations occurring in acute psychiatric wards. Community-based programs require further development to meet the existing needs.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S0924933821003436_sec1033"><jats:title>Disclosure</jats:title><jats:p>No significant relationships.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific