Psychiatric Comorbidity and In-hospital Mortality in Patients Hospitalized for Physical Conditions in Germany

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between psychiatric comorbidity and in?hospital mortality in patients hospitalized for physical conditions in Germany.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized hospital data from IQVIA (Frankfurt, Germany). Adults admitted with a secondary psychiatric diagnosis were matched (1:3) to those without, using a propensity score based on age, sex, hospital department, and primary diagnosis. Diagnoses adhered to the ICD?10 classification. Associations with in?hospital mortality were examined via logistic regression.

Results: The study included 36,796 patients with psychiatric comorbidity (mean age 66.2?�?14.7?years; 53.4% men) and 110,388 without (mean age 66.1?�?15.1?years; 51.9% men). Overall, psychiatric comorbidity did not significantly affect in?hospital mortality (OR?1.00; 95% CI?0.95�1.05). However, increased mortality was observed among patients aged ??70?years and men, whereas reduced mortality was noted in those over 80?years and women.

Conclusions: Psychiatric comorbidity is linked to higher in?hospital mortality in patients aged ??70?years and in men in German hospitals. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in other countries.