Analyzing Patient-Sharing Network Using an Administrative Claim Database in Japan

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Network Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Patient sharing, where individuals visit multiple healthcare facilities, is a common phenomenon.
• Understanding patient sharing patterns is crucial for healthcare system management and resource allocation.
• Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition necessitating continuous medical attention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient sharing behavior among individuals with hypertension using network analysis.
• To evaluate the structural evolution of patient sharing networks over time.
• To identify key network indicators that characterize patient movement across healthcare facilities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an administrative healthcare claims database spanning September 2008 to 2020.
• Applied network analysis methodologies to model patient sharing as a graphical network.
• Calculated network density, reciprocity, transitivity, centrality, and PageRank to assess network structure.

Main Results:

• Observed a temporal increase in network density, reciprocity, and transitivity.
• Found significant correlations between patient network centrality and PageRank scores.
• The study highlights evolving patterns in how patients with hypertension navigate the healthcare system.

Conclusions:

• Patient sharing networks for hypertension demonstrate increasing interconnectedness and complexity over time.
• Network analysis provides valuable insights into patient navigation and healthcare utilization patterns.
• These findings can inform strategies for coordinated care and healthcare resource optimization.