OBJECTIVE: To evaluate naturalistic use of risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) and its effect on healthcare resource use. METHOD: Mirror-image comparison of healthcare resource use for 3 years before RLAI initiation and 3 years after. RESULTS: In total, 211 of 277 patients consecutively prescribed RLAI were evaluable over the full 6-year study period. Median days in hospital/patient increased significantly in the 3 years after RLAI initiation [87 days (inter-quartile range 25-236) before vs. 192 days (47-426) after; P < 0.001]. Those 34 patients who continued RLAI for 3 years showed no change in median bed days [64 days (6.5-182) before vs. 64 days (12-180) after] and median number of admissions was decreased [1.5 (1-2.25) before vs. 1.00 (0-1.25) after; P = 0.001]. Healthcare costs more than doubled for the whole cohort (P < 0.001) and discontinuers (P < 0.001) and increased significantly for continuers (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: RLAI did not decrease either time spent in hospital or overall healthcare costs in this patient cohort.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Taylor et al. (2009) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: