Patient characteristics and healthcare use for high-cost patients with musculoskeletal disorders in Norway: a cohort study.

Background: A high proportion of healthcare costs can be attributed to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). A small proportion of patients account for most of the costs, and there is increasing focus on addressing service overuse and high costs. We aimed to estimate healthcare use contributing to high costs over a five-year period at the individual level and to examine if healthcare use for high-cost patients is in accordance with guidelines and recommendations.

The in- and outpatient health care use of patients with COPD before and after initiation of home care: a registry study from Norway.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common condition associated with age, multimorbidity and frequently involves the use of health care across levels. Understanding the factors associated with the initiation of long-term care is important when planning the future need for services. We describe healthcare use before and after the reception of any home care.

Patient experiences and clinical outcomes of admissions to municipal acute wards versus a hospital: a multicentre randomised controlled trial in Norway.

Background: In Norway, municipal acute wards (MAWs) were implemented as alternatives to hospitalisation. Evaluations of the quality of MAW services are lacking. The primary objective of this study was to compare patient experiences after admission to a MAW versus to a hospital.

Associations between outpatient care and later hospital admissions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a registry study from Norway.

Background: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admissions put a substantial burden on hospitals, most of the patients' contacts with health services are in outpatient care. Traditionally, outpatient care has been difficult to capture in population-based samples. In this study we describe outpatient service use in COPD patients and assess associations between outpatient care (contact frequency and specific factors) and next-year COPD hospital admissions or 90-day readmissions.

Cost structure in specialist mental healthcare: what are the main drivers of the most expensive episodes?

Background: Mental disorders are one of the costliest conditions to treat in Norway, and research into the costs of specialist mental healthcare are needed. The purpose of this article is to present a cost structure and to investigate the variables that have the greatest impact on high-cost episodes.

Methods: Patient-level cost data and clinic information during 2018-2021 were analyzed (N = 180,220).