The main measurements were age, gender, case-mix/comorbidity and health resource utilization and corresponding outpatient costs (drugs, diagnostic tests and visits). Multiple logistic regression analysis and ANCOVA models were applied. Results
A total of 64,072 patients were assessed, of which 11,128 had some type of MD (17.4%; 95% CI, 16.7-18.1).
Patterns of health services use and costs in patients with mental disorders in primary care
 
  Key words
 
 
  
   Mental disorders
  
 
 
  
   Health care resource utilization
  
 
 
  
   Costs study
  
 
 
  
   Primary health care
  
 
Abstract
 Objectives
To determine the pattern of services use and costs of patients requiring care for <dis>mental disorders</dis> (<dis>MD</dis>) in primary care in the context of routine clinical practice.
Methods
We performed a retrospective study of patients older than 15 consulting primary care at least once for <dis>MD</dis>, attended by 5 primary care teams in 2004.
A comparative group was formed with the remaining outpatients <scp><neg>without</neg> <dis>MD</dis></scp>.
The main measurements were age, gender, case-mix/comorbidity and health resource utilization and corresponding outpatient costs (drugs, diagnostic tests and visits).
Multiple logistic regression analysis and ANCOVA models were applied.
Results
A total of 64,072 patients were assessed, of which 11,128 had some type of <dis>MD</dis> (17.4%; 95% CI, 16.7-18.1).
Patients consulting for <dis>MD</dis> had a greater number of health problems (6.7 vs. 4.7; p < 0.0001) and higher resource consumption, mainly all-type medical visits/patient/year (10.7 vs. 7.2; p < 0.0001).
The mean annual cost per patient was higher for patients with <dis>MD</dis> (851.5 vs. 519.2 euros; p < 0.0001), and this difference remained significant after adjusting by age, sex and comorbidities, with a differential cost of euros 72.7 (95% CI, 59.2-85.9).
All components of outpatient management costs were significantly higher in the <dis>MD</dis> group.
Conclusions
Outpatients seeking care for some type of <dis>MD</dis> had a high number of comorbidities and showed greater annual cost per patient in the primary care setting.
Abstract
 Objectives
To determine the pattern of services use and costs of patients requiring care for mental disorders (MD) in primary care in the context of routine clinical practice.
Methods
We performed a retrospective study of patients older than 15 consulting primary care at least once for MD, attended by 5 primary care teams in 2004.
A comparative group was formed with the remaining outpatients without MD.
The main measurements were age, gender, case-mix/comorbidity and health resource utilization and corresponding outpatient costs (drugs, diagnostic tests and visits).
Multiple logistic regression analysis and ANCOVA models were applied.
Results
A total of 64,072 patients were assessed, of which 11,128 had some type of MD (17.4%; 95% CI, 16.7-18.1).
Patients consulting for MD had a greater number of health problems (6.7 vs. 4.7; p < 0.0001) and higher resource consumption, mainly all-type medical visits/patient/year (10.7 vs. 7.2; p < 0.0001).
The mean annual cost per patient was higher for patients with MD (851.5 vs. 519.2 euros; p < 0.0001), and this difference remained significant after adjusting by age, sex and comorbidities, with a differential cost of euros 72.7 (95% CI, 59.2-85.9).
All components of outpatient management costs were significantly higher in the MD group.
Conclusions
Outpatients seeking care for some type of MD had a high number of comorbidities and showed greater annual cost per patient in the primary care setting.
The main measurements were age, gender, case-mix/comorbidity and health resource utilization and corresponding outpatient costs (drugs, diagnostic tests and visits). Multiple logistic regression analysis and ANCOVA models were applied. Results
A total of 64,072 patients were assessed, of which 11,128 had some type of <dis>MD</dis> (17.4%; 95% CI, 16.7-18.1).
MD
DISABILITY