Research Paper Title

Risk factors of hospitalization for any medical condition among patients with prior emergency department visits for mental health conditions.

Background

This longitudinal study identified risk factors for frequency of hospitalisation among patients with any medical condition who had previously visited one of six Quebec (Canada) emergency departments (ED) at least once for mental health (MH) conditions as the primary diagnosis.

Methods

Records of n = 11,367 patients were investigated using administrative databanks (2012-13/2014-15). Hospitalisation rates in the 12 months after a first ED visit in 2014-15 were categorised as no hospitalisations (0 times), moderate hospitalisations (1-2 times), and frequent hospitalisations (3+ times). Based on the Andersen Behavioural Model, data on risk factors were gathered for the 2 years prior to the first visit in 2014-2015, and were identified as predisposing, enabling or needs factors. They were tested using a hierarchical multinomial logistic regression according to the three groups of hospitalisation rate.

Results

Enabling factors accounted for the largest percentage of total variance explained in the study model, followed by needs and predisposing factors. Co-occurring mental disorders (MD)/substance-related disorders (SRD), alcohol-related disorders, depressive disorders, frequency of consultations with outpatient psychiatrists, prior ED visits for any medical condition and number of physicians consulted in specialized care, were risk factors for both moderate and frequent hospitalisations. Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders, and age (except 12-17 years) were risk factors for moderate hospitalisations, while higher numbers (4+) of overall interventions in local community health service centres were a risk factor for frequent hospitalisations only. Patients with personality disorders, drug-related disorders, suicidal behaviours, and those who visited a psychiatric ED integrated with a general ED in a separate site, or who visited a general ED without psychiatric services were also less likely to be hospitalised. Less urgent and non-urgent illness acuity prevented moderate hospitalisations only.

Conclusions

Patients with severe and complex health conditions, and higher numbers of both prior outpatient psychiatrist consultations and ED visits for medical conditions had more moderate and frequent hospitalisations as compared with non-hospitalised patients. Patients at risk for frequent hospitalisations were more vulnerable overall and had important biopsychosocial problems. Improved primary care and integrated outpatient services may prevent post-ED hospitalisation.

Reference

Penzenstadler, L., Gentil, L., Grenier, G., Khazaal, Y. & Fleury, M-J. (2020) Risk factors of hospitalization for any medical condition among patients with prior emergency department visits for mental health conditions. BMC Psychiatry. 20(1), pp.431. doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02835-2.