USE OF HOSPITAL SERVICES BY AIDS PATIENTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC-ILLNESS

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of psychiatric illn ess on length of stay and patterns of admission among AIDS patients ho spitalized for medical illnesses. Medical records were abstracted for AIDS patients admitted to hospitals in Washington State from 1990 thro ugh 1992. Psychiatric comorbidity was defined by the presence of an In ternational Classification of Disease-9 code reflecting psychiatric il lness. Medical morbidity was addressed using CD4 count and AIDS-defini ng illnesses as markers of disease severity. Of 2834 admissions, 15% i ncluded one or more psychiatric diagnoses. Psychiatric illness (F 39.1 ; df 1,2830; p < 0.001) and discharge disposition (F 81.2; df 2,2830; p < 0.001) contributed significantly to the model, explaining increase d length of stay (F 67.2; df 3,2830; p < 0.001). Future research needs to address the possible etiology of psychiatric comorbidity's contrib ution to length of stay and the effect on quality and cost of care. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.