Healthcare resource utilization during 1-year treatment with long-acting, injectable risperidone

Schizophrenia is associated with disproportionately high costs, mainly due to hospitalization rates. This study assessed healthcare resource use in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder during treatment with long-acting risperidone.

Patients (n = 397 [inpatients, 24%; outpatients, 76%]) receiving stable doses of an antipsychotic for >or=4 weeks were eligible to enter this 1-year, open-label study. Following a 2-week run-in period (oral risperidone 1-6 mg/day), patients received intramuscular long-acting risperidone (25 or 50 mg modal dose) every 2 weeks. Healthcare resource use in the previous 12 weeks was assessed at baseline and 12-weekly intervals.

Patients needing hospitalization decreased significantly and continuously from 38% during the 12 weeks before study entry to 12% during the last 12 weeks. Mean hospitalization length during the study was 30.5 days (outpatients, 4.9 days; inpatients, 110 days). This included 28 patients (7%) who remained in hospital throughout the study. During treatment, 71% of those hospitalized at baseline were discharged. Partial hospitalization decreased significantly from 7% of patients during the 12 weeks before treatment to 3% during the last 12 weeks. Outpatient consultations also decreased significantly from 70% of patients to 30% in the first 12 weeks of treatment and remained stable thereafter. Only 9% of patients required an emergency room visit; mostly for non-psychiatric conditions.

Healthcare resource use is significantly reduced in patients with stable schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder receiving long-acting risperidone. It is highly likely that these reductions will decrease healthcare costs in patients receiving long-acting risperidone.