Incidence and prevalence of psychotic disorders, a county population study of Tirana hospital admissions

Objective: To estimate incidence and prevalence of first admissions for mental health diagnoses in the Tirana county catchment area and related admissions from other Albania counties to Tirana University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”. Method: We used the historic dataset of mental health diagnoses composed of electronic patient records discharges. Tirana county, was the focus of the age standardized mean annual incidence (first admissions) per 100,000 population per region for ICD-9 three-digit codes - 295 (Schizophrenic psychoses), 296 (Affective psychoses) and 295-299 (Other psychoses), 2007 – 2021. Taking in consideration internal migration and emigration trends of the Albanian population we subdivided the study period in three periods, PI (2007-2011), PII (2012-2016), PIII (2017-2021). Mean annual incidence (first admissions) per 100,000 population per region and period prevalence, Albania, 2005 – 2021 were calculated. Results: During the study period, 2005 – 2021, resulted 21,287 diagnoses discharged as Mental Disorders (290-319) - ICD, 9th edition, period 2005-2021. First admissions were 12,251 cases, which were responsible for 57.6% of total admissions, of which 6,525 (53.3%) were males. Mean age (median) first admissions was 37.0 ± 15.5 (36.3) years. Age standardized mean annual incidence (first admissions) per 100,000 population (95% CI), Tirana county, Schizophrenic psychoses, Affective psychoses and Other psychoses, were respectively PI (15.48 [12.68 - 18.29], 19.38 [16.21 - 22.54] and 48.92 [43.69 - 54.16]), PII (10.05 [7.90 - 12.20], 14.29 [11.73 - 16.85] and 32.82 [28.93 - 36.71]) and PIII (9.24 [7.30 - 11.18], 18.82 [15.89 - 21.75] and 34.25 [30.29 - 38.20]). Tirana county, 17-year prevalence, of first hospitalizations was respectively by code, 224.8, 323.2 and 666.7 per 100,000 population. Conclusion: This aproach, from a tertiary hospital first admissions viewpoint can serve as a posible aproximation towards holistic studies. The synchronic study produces suficient backgroud information for next prospective level longitudinal studies.