One-year post-hospital medical costs and relapse rates of bipolar disorder patients in Taiwan: A population-based study
Journal
Bipolar Disorders
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
8
Pages
859-865
Date Issued
2010
Author(s)
Abstract
Objectives: We examined a nationwide population-based dataset of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) hospitalized in Taiwan, with our analyses focusing on one-year medical costs and relapse rates.Methods: The data for this study, covering the years 2006 and 2007, were obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database. The study sample comprised BD patients who were discharged from hospitals between January 1 and December 31, 2006. Annual medical costs and relapse rates were described; the Kaplan-Meier method and the generalized linear models were carried out to examine the risk factors associated with cases of relapse.Results: The annual medical costs associated with relapses among the study sample were found to be approximately 7.6 times the average per-capita NHI expenditure in Taiwan in 2006 (US$4,354 versus US$574), with a one-year relapse rate of 55%. Those patients between 20 and 60 years old with a medication possession ratio of <80 and with depressive episodes during the recruitment period were identified as being at risk of relapse.Conclusion: Bipolar disorder, which is a very costly disease, is associated with both poor medication adherence rates and frequent recurrences. Targeting drug adherence issues during maintenance treatment may well provide a valuable opportunity to reduce the risk of such recurrences. ? 2010 John Wiley and Sons A/S.
Subjects
Bipolar disorder; Medical costs; Medication possession ratio (MPR); Relapse
Other Subjects
mood stabilizer; neuroleptic agent; adolescent; adult; article; bipolar disorder; child; cost of illness; female; health care cost; human; major clinical study; male; patient compliance; population research; priority journal; recurrence risk; recurrent disease; risk assessment; risk factor; Taiwan; treatment refusal; Adult; Bipolar Disorder; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Discharge; Recurrence; Sampling Studies; Taiwan; Time Factors
Type
journal article