Characteristics of hospital encounters and associated economic burden of patients with major depressive disorder and acute suicidal ideation or behavior

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives Relatively little is known about the hospital experience among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and acute suicidal ideation or behavior (MDSI). The objectives of this study were to examine hospital encounter characteristics, including the associated economic burden and risk of subsequent hospital encounters of patients with MDSI in the US. Methods In this retrospective analysis, patients ≥18 years of age with a hospital encounter (emergency department [ED] visit or inpatient admission) were selected from the de-identified Premier Hospital database between 1 January 2017 and 30 September 2018. Patients were required to have MDD as the primary and acute suicidal ideation or behavior as a secondary discharge diagnosis or vice versa. Patient demographics and characteristics of hospital encounters were examined. Rates and costs of subsequent all-cause and MDD-related hospital encounters 6 months following initial discharge were also evaluated. Results The study population consisted of 123,179 patients with a hospital encounter for MDSI (mean age: 38 years, 50.9% female, 74.6% White); 50.2% were treated in the ED only (mean ± standard deviation cost: $693±$630), while 49.8% were admitted as inpatients ($6,478±$7,001). Among those with ED visits, very few (7.0%) received an antidepressant (AD). Among those with an inpatient admission, 87.2% received ≥1 AD and 39.0% received AD augmentation. Overall rates and costs of subsequent all-cause and MDD-related hospital encounters were 22.3% ($5,136±$11,791) and 12.0% ($3,722±$9,621), respectively; nearly half of subsequent encounters (41.3% and 44.3%, respectively) occurred in the first month following initial discharge. Conclusions This analysis of patients with MDSI presenting to US hospitals shows heterogeneity in treatment and a concentration of costly subsequent hospital encounters within 1-month post discharge, suggesting that healthcare systems may benefit from examination of current care pathways for this vulnerable patient population.