[Frequency and costs of additional hospitalisations in the year after inpatient or day hospital detoxification treatment].
OBJECTIVE
We examined if the presumed reduction in costs of day hospital detoxification compared to inpatient treatment is neutralised by more frequent additional inpatient treatment episodes during a 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Randomised clinical trial with 1-year follow-ups. Calculation of costs for additional treatments is based on data from health insurances.


RESULTS
Compared to inpatient treatment, day hospital treatment saved approximately 24 % of the costs of the initial detoxification. Overall, additional inpatient treatments during the follow-up period produced more costs than the initial treatments, but no significant difference emerged between the treatment groups. About 75 % of costs for additional treatments were caused by 25 % of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower costs of day treatment detoxification treatment are not annilihated by increased costs of additional inpatient treatments during the first year after discharge. Under a health services perspective, research concerning a relatively small group of "heavy users" is especially important.
Weithmann
Gerd
G
Zentrum für Psychiatrie Weissenau, Abteilung Versorgungsforschung, Ravensburg. gerd.weithmann@zfp-weissenau.de
Hoffmann
Markus
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data