@article{ref1,
title="Characteristics, procedural differences, and costs of inpatients with drug poisoning in acute care hospitals in Japan",
journal="General hospital psychiatry",
year="2012",
author="Okumura, Yasuyuki and Shimizu, Sayuri and Ishikawa, Koichi B. and Matsuda, Shinya and Fushimi, Kiyohide and Ito, Hiroto",
volume="34",
number="6",
pages="681-685",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the clinical and procedural characteristics of drug poisoning, to examine procedural differences between drug poisoning repeaters and non-repeaters, and to estimate the costs of drug poisoning. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of 6585 inpatients with drug poisoning was conducted, using the administrative database of the Diagnosis Procedure Combination/Per-Diem Payment System in 2008. RESULTS: Although only 3% of patients required surgery and 65% were discharged from the hospitals within 3 days, greater than 30% were admitted to tertiary emergency care (i.e., high-level emergency care) centers that provide care to severely ill and trauma patients who require intensive care. Only 30% of patients received psychiatric consultation during hospitalization. In addition, repeaters were less likely to be admitted to hospitals by ambulance (67% vs. 76%) and more likely to be discharged within 3 days (77% vs. 65%) than non-repeaters. The annual economic burden of drug poisoning in Japan was $66 million (¥7.7 billion), with the population aged 20-39 years accounting for 50% of these costs. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for optimally allocating resources and improving prevention strategies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0163-8343",
doi="10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.07.009",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.07.009"
}