Healthcare resource utilization and quality of life by cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate the association between cognitive impairment and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and quality of life (QoL) among patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Data from the Adelphi Schizophrenia Disease Specific Programme™, a point-in-time survey of physicians and their patients, were collected in the United States between July–October 2019. Psychiatrists reported on patient cognitive function, HCRU, housing circumstances and employment status for their next 10 consulting adult patients with schizophrenia. Patients were classified as having no/mild or moderate/severe cognitive impairment and asked to complete a QoL questionnaire voluntarily. Multiple regression analysis estimated the association between severity of cognitive impairment and patient outcomes adjusting for patient demographics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Psychiatrists (n=124) reported on 651 and 484 patients with no/mild and moderate/severe cognitive impairment, respectively. Moderate/severe vs. no/mild cognitive impairment was associated with greater odds of hospitalization related to schizophrenia relapse within the last 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] [95% CI] = 2.23 [1.53–3.24]) and being unemployed due to disability (aOR = 2.39 [1.65–3.45]). Patients with moderate/severe vs. no/mild cognitive impairment had worse average QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension [EQ-5D] Health Index: difference = −0.09 [−0.13 to −0.04]; EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale: difference = −7.0 [−13.0 to −1.0]) and overall life satisfaction (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form: difference = −8.4 [−14.1 to −2.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate/severe cognitive impairment among patients with schizophrenia was associated with worse patient outcomes including greater risk of hospitalizations related to schizophrenia relapse. Treatment to improve cognitive function could benefit the large proportion of patients with schizophrenia who suffer from cognitive impairment.