title: Correlates of rehospitalisation in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Schizophrenia typically has a fluctuating course; rehospitalisation is common. We studied associations between discharge variables and subsequent two-year rehospitalisation rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a New Zealand national database, we obtained rehospitalisation rates and bed days for 451 patients with schizophrenia discharged from three inpatient facilities between July 2009 and December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly half (44%) of the cohort were rehospitalised within two years. Patients over 50 were less likely [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35-0.97, p = 0.04] to be rehospitalised. Patients whose index admission included compulsory treatment appeared more likely (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.98-1.71, p = 0.06) to be rehospitalised and spent longer rehospitalised (p = 0.05). Those whose index admission was three weeks or longer were less likely (HR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.39-0.72, p = 0.001) to be rehospitalised. Antipsychotic types, routes and dosages were not significantly associated with rehospitalisation rate, except for those prescribed clozapine (HR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.89, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehospitalisation rates were higher for patients under the age of 50 and those with shorter index admissions; the latter finding requires further study. Other than the beneficial effect of clozapine, the type and route of prescribed antipsychotics did not significantly affect rehospitalisation rates.
authors.affiliation: Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Hamilton New Zealand; Psychiatrist (FRANZCP), Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand sangeeta.dey@waikatodhb.health.nz.
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Menkes
authors.affiliation: Statistician, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Obertova
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrist (MRCP, Locum), Tairawhiti District Health Board, Gisborne, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sreemanti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
authors.affiliation: Professor of Psychiatry, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mellsop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine
keywords: Schizophrenia; antipsychotic; clozapine; outcome; rehospitalisation