Schizophrenia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. While schizophrenia has been extensively studied in the past, the contemporary data for impact of schizophrenia on cost of hospitalization are largely lacking.

We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) dataset between 1998–2011 using the ICD-9 codes. Severity of comorbid conditions was defined by Deyo modification of Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcome was total charges for hospitalization. Using SAS 9.2, Chi2 test, t-test and Cochran-Armitage test were used to test significance.

A total of 443,659 patients were analyzed; 38.78% were female and 61.22% were male (P < 0.0001); 48.19% were white, 35.30% black and 16.51% of other race (P < 0.0001). Rate of hospitalization increased from 56,768.47/million to 79,44466/million from 1998–2011. Overall mortality was 0.70% and mean cost of hospitalization was 23,568.47$. The in-hospital mortality decreased from 0.75% to 0.73% (P < 0.0001) and mean cost of hospitalization increased from 12,775.64$ to 36,768.58$. Total spending on schizophrenia related admissions have increased from $1.75 billion/year $6.23 billion/year.

While mortality has slightly decreased from 1998 to 2011, the cost has significantly increased from $1.75 billion/year to $6.23 billion/year which leads to an estimated $4.48 billion/year additional burden to US health care system. In the era of cost conscious care, preventing schizophrenia related hospitalization could save billions of dollars every year. Focused efforts are needed to establish preventive measures for schizophrenia related hospitalization.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.