title: An inpatient profile of patients with a substance abuse diagnosis in Maryland.
abstract: We provide a descriptive analysis of patients with a substance abuse diagnosis in Maryland hospitals in 1991. The intent of the study was not to model relationships between substance abuse and other outcomes (e.g., length of stay), but was to obtain a better understanding of the population receiving inpatient care and to motivate future research. We found that the majority of patients with a substance abuse diagnosis were male, African-American, single, and between the ages of 15 and 44. Medicaid was overwhelmingly the primary payer for their care. These patients were diagnosed with chronic liver disease, pancreas diseases, HIV infection, a number of psychiatric disorders, and respiratory symptoms. We surprisingly found that the average length of stay was shorter for patients with a substance abuse diagnosis and that their average charges were only slightly higher than other patients. We also found that substance abuse patients enter the hospital through the emergency room and the majority leave the hospital against medical advice.
authors.affiliation: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Zarkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation