Posted 05 September 2016 - 11:34
Posted 05 September 2016 - 11:34
News
Mental health conditions lengthen hospital stays for heart failure patients
Heart failure patients who are also affected by a mental health condition are more likely to face an increased length of stay in hospital, new research suggests.
Heart failure patients who are also affected by a mental health condition are more likely to face an increased length of stay in hospital, new research suggests.
The Aston University study, which looked at more than 30,000 UK heart failure patients, found that those with a mental health condition spent an average 3.3 days longer in hospital, costing the NHS on average an extra £800 per admission.
Researchers found depression lengthened stays by an additional 3.4 days, dementia by 4.2 days and bipolar disorder an extra 8.8 days.
Lead study author Paul Carter said: ‘It may be that heart failure services have to be modified to include mental health professionals in the timely assessment of these patients to reduce this burden on the NHS.’