The outcome and burden of Chinese patients with neurodegenerative diseases: A 10‐year clinical feature study

Abstract

Background As the Chinese population continues to age, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) has increased dramatically, which results in heavy medical and economic burden for families and society. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate NDDs in a southern Chinese hospital over a 10‐year period and examine trends in demographics, outcome, length of stay, and cost. Methods Retrospective medical records of patients from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected, including 7231 patients with NDDs (as case group) and 9663 patients without any NDDs (as control group). The information of social demographic data, admission source, reasons for admission, outcomes, length of stay (LOS), and cost were extracted and analyzed. Result The average hospitalization age of the patients with NDDs is over 65 years (peak age 70–89 years). Compared to the control group, the case group had a longer LOS and a higher cost and the numbers of patients with NDDs increased yearly from 2010 to 2019. The LOS shortened while the cost increased. Clinical features affected LOS and cost. Patients suffering from infection, abnormal blood pressure and the imbalance of water‐electrolyte homeostasis as main reasons for admission were decreased; however, heart disease, cerebrovascular accident and mental diseases were significantly increased, the overall change trend of fracture/trauma remained stable. The rate of discharge to home care and mortality declined; discharge to other medical or community facilities increased over ten years. Conclusion The majority of NDDs patients tended to be older. During the last 10 years from 2010 to 2019, the numbers of NDDs patients increased yearly, the trend of LOS became shortening and the cost gradually increasing. The main reasons of admission and outcomes of hospital showed different trends.