Objective: DiGeorge Syndrome (DGS) is a common multisystem disorder associated with deletions on chromosome 22q11.2. Our objective is to evaluate the psychiatric comorbidities and demographics of patients suffering from DGS in a nationally representative dataset on inpatient hospitalizations.
Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the year 2005-2017 was used for this study. Data on patients with DiGeorge syndrome were collected by using the International Classification of Diseases code. Univariate and multi- variate logistic regression analysis was performed.
Results: In our study, the average age was 30.4 years (n = 6,563), with 59.9% male, and 61.8% of patients were white. There was a high prevalence of mood disorders (24.7%) and anxiety disorders (16.4%), followed by schizo- phrenia and other psychotic condition (14.0%). In patients with mood disorders, 8% had Major Depressive Disorder, and 7% had bipolar depression. Overall composite of psychiatric comorbidities was present in 2,959 (45.1%) of patients. The mean length of stay was 6.58 days, and 77% of patients had routine discharge to home. In the adjusted analysis, the average length of stay was 8.6 days vs. 6.7 days (p < 0.001) in patients with and without psychiatry comorbidities. In comparison to routine discharge, patients with psychiatry comorbidities were more likely to be discharged to other healthcare facilities (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28, p < 0.001) and discharged against medical advice (OR: 3.45, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with DGS have worse outcomes with a higher rate of discharge to other healthcare facilities and a higher rate of being discharged against medical advice. Further large scale randomize studies are indicated.
Keywords: Comorbidity; Depression; DiGeorge syndrome; Schizophrenia.