The resource utilisation of medically unexplained physical symptoms

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Health Economics

Background:

• Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) lead to frequent hospital visits and potentially unnecessary healthcare utilization.
• Accurate assessment of MUPS presentations and associated costs is crucial for optimizing healthcare resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency and types of MUPS presentations to clinical services.
• To estimate the direct healthcare costs associated with MUPS.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 49 patients diagnosed with MUPS in New Zealand during 2013.
• Analysis of clinical records for secondary care activity within a 6-month period surrounding the MUPS presentation.
• Application of standardized national costing methodology to calculate healthcare expenditures.

Main Results:

• 49% of patients with MUPS had at least two hospital attendances in 2013.
• Neurological and respiratory symptoms were the most common reasons for presentation.
• Total healthcare costs for the study sample amounted to GBP89,636, with inpatient and emergency care being the most significant cost drivers.

Conclusions:

• MUPS contribute to high healthcare utilization and substantial costs, rivaling those of chronic diseases with identifiable pathology.
• Improved recognition and management strategies for MUPS are essential for delivering more appropriate and cost-effective patient care.
• Addressing MUPS effectively can lead to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes and resource efficiency.