Discontinuation of Somatic Medication During Psychiatric Hospitalization. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdullah-Koolmees, Heshu; Gardarsdottir, Helga; Stoker, Lennart J.; Vuyk, Judith; Egberts, Toine C. G.; Heerdink, Eibert R.
• Is Part Of: Annals of pharmacotherapy. Volume 48:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1415
• Page End: 1424
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: discontinuation -- psychiatry -- somatic medication -- psychiatric hospital -- continuation of care; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1177/1060028014544897
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1060-0280

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric hospitalization can increase the risk of discontinuation of pharmacotherapy, which may negatively influence patients' health.Objective: To investigate the association between psychiatric hospitalization and discontinuation of somatic medication.Methods: A retrospective crossover study was performed in patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital (index date), who had got somatic medication dispensed during the 3 months prior to hospitalization. Discontinuation of somatic medication was investigated at the following time points: index date and 3, 6, and 9 months before the index date. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of discontinuing somatic medication at the index date versus the time points before the index date were estimated using Cox regression.Results: In all, 471 hospitalized patients were included in the study; 38.9% of the patients were discontinuers on the index date. RR for discontinuation of ≥1 somatic medication was 1.88 (95% CI = 1.55-2.27) at the index date compared with the other time points and highest for patients <45 years (RR = 2.83; 95% CI = 1.92-4.18).Conclusions: Psychiatric hospitalization was associated with an almost doubled risk of discontinuation of somatic medication. Future studies should address the influence of discontinuation of care on patients' health.