Clinical benefit of second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics in preventing re-hospitalization in patients with schizophrenia: A real-world study in Japan

Real-world evidence on the benefits of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics (AP) in patients with schizophrenia is limited, especially in the employed population in Japan. This study evaluates the effectiveness of LAI AP in preventing re-hospitalization in patients with schizophrenia, including the employed population.This retrospective, observational, population-based study used the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) health insurance claims database to identify patients having schizophrenia before or on the day of the first LAI AP prescription (index date), and receiving LAI AP between April 1, 2012 and December 31, 2019. The number of all-cause, psychiatric-, and schizophrenia-related hospitalizations at baseline (365 days before index date) and during the 1-year follow-up period were evaluated.Of the 1692 patients who received LAI AP during the study period, 146 were included (employed: 55 [37.7 %]; dependent: 91 [62.3 %]). The mean age was 37 years; 50.7 % (n = 74) were females. During baseline period, 61 (41.8 %) patients were not hospitalized. During the follow-up period, 67 (45.9 %) patients underwent hospitalization ≤ 7 days; all-cause: 100 (68.7 %); psychiatry-related: 104 (76.2 %); schizophrenia-related: 114 (78.1 %). A higher proportion of patients were hospitalization-free during the follow-up in the employed vs. dependent population: all cause: 69.1 % vs. 61.5 %; psychiatric-related 76.4 % vs. 67.0 %, schizophrenia-related: 87.3 % vs. 71.4 %.This study demonstrated the effectiveness of LAI AP in preventing hospitalization in Japan. During the follow-up period, patients with schizophrenia receiving LAI AP, including the employed population, had a significant decrease in hospitalization length and re-hospitalization rate compared to baseline.