Length of hospital stay and health services use of medical inpatients with comorbid noncognitive mental disorders: a review of the literature.
We reviewed 23 studies on the association between noncognitive mental disorders and the use of general health care services by medical patients admitted to a general hospital. Only studies with a prospective design and with a correction for possible confounding factors were included. In most studies, only service use during index admission was observed, but eight studies included a longer observation period during follow-up after hospital discharge. The 15 studies that were restricted to service use during index admission showed mixed results: length of hospital stay was related to common mental disorders in some studies, but other studies did not find such an association. The eight studies that used a longer observation period showed findings that are more consistent. They demonstrated mainly that symptoms or complaints of depression are related to a higher resource use within general medical services.
Koopmans
Gerrit T
GT
Department of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Medical Center, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. g.koopmans@bmg.eur.nl
Donker
Marianne C H
MC
Rutten
Frans H H
FH
D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review