Clinical and resource-use outcomes of risperidone long-acting injection in recent and long-term diagnosed schizophrenia patients: results from a multinational electronic registry.
BACKGROUND
Non-adherence to pharmacological treatment leading to frequent relapses and rehospitalizations is a major issue of concern among schizophrenia patients, especially those who are recently diagnosed. Risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) has been shown to be efficacious, improve compliance, and increase long-term retention rate on therapy.


OBJECTIVE
To determine clinical outcomes and hospitalizations before and after the initiation of RLAI among schizophrenia patients with recent (< or =2 years) diagnosis relative to those who had long-term (> 2 years) diagnosis.


METHODS
The electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry (e-STAR) is an observational study of patients with schizophrenia who start treatment with RLAI. Data were recorded at baseline, retrospectively for the 12 months prior to baseline, and prospectively every 3 months for 24 months. Data on patients with a defined length of diagnosis were pooled from eight countries.


METHODS
Clinical Global Impression of Illness Severity (CGI-S), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores, and hospitalization data were key outcomes.


RESULTS
The magnitude of improvement in CGI-S scores was greater in the recent versus long-term diagnosis group [Delta -1.48 vs. Delta -0.95 (12 months); Delta -1.6 vs. Delta -1.09 (24 months)]. There were parallel improvements in GAF scores [Delta 19.4 vs. Delta 13.7 (12 months); Delta 22.3 vs. Delta 16.8 (24 months)]. The decline in the proportion of patients hospitalized from the retrospective to the prospective period was greater in the recent versus long-term diagnosis group (Delta -36.0 vs. Delta -19%, respectively) at 12 months. This was also true for the number of hospital stays (Delta -0.6 vs. Delta -0.3, respectively) and length of stay (days) (Delta -20.9 vs. Delta -6.9, respectively) at 12 months. Common adverse events in both groups included psychiatric, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and reproductive system and breast disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with RLAI is associated with improved outcomes in recently diagnosed and chronic patients. However, the magnitude of improvement was higher in recently diagnosed patients.
Olivares
J M
JM
Servicio de Psiquiatria, Hospital Meixoeiro, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Vigo, Vigo, Spain. jose.manuel.olivares@gmail.com
Peuskens
J
J
Pecenak
J
J
Resseler
S
S
Jacobs
A
A
Akhras
K S
KS
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018967:Risperidone