Prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia among national health insurance enrollees in Taiwan, 1996–2001

Abstract

As many as 96% of all residents of Taiwan have been enrolled in the National Health Insurance (NHI) program since 1996. The NHI database was used to examine the prevalence and incidence of schizoprenia. The National Health Research Institute provided a database of 200 432 random subjects, about 1% of the population, for study. By means of exclusion criteria, a random sample of 136 045 subjects as a fixed cohort dated from 1996-2001 was obtained. Those study subjects who had at least one service claim during these years for either ambulatory or inpatient care, with a principal diagnosis of schizophrenia, were identified. The cumulative prevalence increased from 3.34 per 1000 to 6.42 per 1000 from 1996 to 2001. The annual incidence density decreased from 0.95 per 1000/year to 0.45 per 1000/year from 1997 to 2001. Male subjects had higher treated prevalence in younger age groups than did female subjects. Higher prevalence was associated with the 25-44 and 45-64 age groups, insurance amount less than US$640, the eastern region, and suburban areas. Lower incidence was associated with the 45-64 age group. Higher incidence was associated with insurance amount less than US$640, and the eastern region. According to the trends of cumulative prevalence and incidence density, the treated prevalence and incidence rate will be approximate to community rates gradually. Most persons with schizophrenia had received treatment in Taiwan after the NHI program was implemented. Future studies should focus on outcome and cost evaluation.

Health care utilization and expenditures of persons with diabetes comorbid with anxiety disorder: a national population-based cohort study

“…There are many advantages in using insurance data when studying health care utilization and expenditure for persons with diabetes comorbid with anxiety disorder, including a large number of subjects for sampling, less time and money required for psychiatric assessments, and longitudinal data to detect the incidence and risk factors [38]. However, this study has some limitations.…”

Healthcare Utilization and Expenditures for Persons with Diabetes Comorbid with Mental Illnesses

“…There are many advantages to using insurance data when studying healthcare utilization and expenditure for diabetic patients with mental illnesses, including a large number of subjects for sampling, saving time and money required to perform psychiatric assessments, and longitudinal data to detect the incidence and risk factors [42]. However, some limitations remain.…”

An Update on the Epidemiology of Schizophrenia with a Special Reference to Clinically Important Risk Factors

“…The distribution of rates in this review was asymmetric and interpreted as a possible variation in the incidence of schizophrenia. Finally, while some recent studies have suggested that the incidence rates of schizophrenia across time are in decline (Chien et al 2004;Nicole et al 1992;Suvisaari et al 1999;Takei et al 1996), more recent studies in London and Canada have shown an increase in the incidence rates of schizophrenia across time (Boydell et al 2003;Bray et al 2006). …”