Psychiatric disorders are associated with hospital care utilization in persons with hypertension: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on alcohol and related conditions.
BACKGROUND
Psychiatric disorders and hypertension both independently increase risk for heart disease, cardiac events, and healthcare utilization. However, the contribution of specific psychiatric disorders to healthcare utilization in persons with hypertension is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate associations between psychiatric disorders and receipt of hospital care in people with hypertension.


METHODS
Cross-sectional epidemiologic survey.


METHODS
A total of 8,812 hypertensive individuals drawn from a randomly selected sample of 43,093 US adults.


RESULTS
Participants were assessed in-person for a range of mental disorders (using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV), hypertension status (self-report), and past-year occurrence of emergency room treatment and overnight hospital stay (self-report).


RESULTS
After controlling for demographics and clinical variables, persons having any lifetime mood, anxiety, or personality disorders had increased likelihood of emergency room treatment [odds ratios (ORs) = 1.26, 1.18, and 1.47, respectively]. Persons having any mood or personality disorder had increased likelihood of overnight hospital stay (ORs = 1.24 and 1.31, respectively). The specific disorders significantly associated with emergency room treatment were lifetime major depression, lifetime manic disorder, past-year major depression, past-year manic disorder, past-year panic disorder without agoraphobia, and paranoid, histrionic, antisocial, obsessive-compulsive personality disorders, with ORs ranging from 1.25 to 2.41. The specific disorders significantly associated with overnight hospital stay were lifetime dysthymia, lifetime manic disorder, past-year major depression, past-year manic disorder, and histrionic, antisocial, and paranoid personality disorders, with ORs ranging from 1.40 to 1.87.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that addressing mental health problems in persons with hypertension may decrease healthcare utilization.
Division of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA. juwagner@uchc.edu
Julie A
JA
Wagner
Robert H
RH
Pietrzak
Nancy M
NM
Petry
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult