Background:Most psychiatric illnesses have a chronic relapsing course. It is estimated that the readmission rate for discharged patients is approximately 40-50% within one year of their discharge from the hospital. The current emphasis in mental health service is on brief hospitalization and providing community-based services.Aim:To understand the relationship between the duration of first hospital admission and the rates of readmission in a psychiatry hospital.Materials and Methods:All the patients admitted at Asha hospital, Hyderabad for the first time between 16 September, 2003 to 15 March, 2004, were included in the study. The hospital records of these patients were examined and the data was collected on various variables, which included demographic variables, duration of hospital stay, diagnosis, and the number of readmissions for a period of approximately three-and-a-half years. The duration of the first hospital stay was divided into four categories, Group 1:1-7 days, Group 2:8 to 14 days, Group 3:15 to 30 days, and Group 4: More than 30 days.Results:The sample consisted of 516 patients, out of whom 17 were excluded because of insufficient data. Two hundred and fifty patients belonged to Group 1 (1 to 7 days), 206 patients in Group 2 (8 to 14 days), Group 3 (15 to 30 days) constituted 35 patients, and eight patients were in Group 4 (>30 days).Conclusion:The length of the initial hospital stay is important to prevent future hospitalization. There are no definite predictors for readmission that could be detected, except for the length of the initial admission in the study.

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ObjectivesTo assess the general cardiac health of inpatients in acute psychiatric units and to evaluate the practice of ECG use in this setting.AimsOverall cardiac risk is assessed using QRISK2. Clinically significant ECG abnormality detection by psychiatric teams are compared with same by cardiologist.MethodsTen percent of patients (n = 113) admitted to five acute psychiatric wards during a period of 13 months across three hospital sites, covering a population of 1.1 million, were randomly selected. Electronic health care records were used to collect all data, in the form of typed entries and scanned notes. An experienced cardiologist, blind to the psychiatrist assessments, performed ECG analysis. The QRISK2 online calculator was used to calculate 10-year cardiovascular risk as recommended by NIHR, UK.ResultsA score of 10% or more indicates a need for further intervention to lower risk.13.5% of patients had a QRISK2 score of 10–20%, 5.2% had a score of 20–30%, and 1 patient had a QRISK2 score > 30%. In total, 19.7% had a QRISK2 of 10% or greater. A total of 2.9% had prolonged QTC interval (> 440 ms), with 2.9% having a borderline QTC (421–440). A total of 34.3% of ECGs were identified by the ward doctors as abnormal, with action being taken on 41.6% of these abnormal ECGs. Cardiologist analysis identified 57.1% of ECGs with abnormalities of potential clinical significance.ConclusionsOne in five patients admitted to psychiatry wards have poor cardiac health requiring interventions. Though QTC interval prolongation is rare, half of patients may have abnormal ECGs that require further analysis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.