To determine the time to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and identify its predictors among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) discharged on secondary prevention medications in Ethiopia.
Institution-based retrospective cohort study.
University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia.
A total of 400 adult patients diagnosed with ACS and discharged with secondary prevention medications between January 2020 and December 2024.
The primary outcome was time to first MACE, defined as reinfarction, stroke or heart failure, measured in years from hospital discharge. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted to identify predictors of time to develop MACE. Data collected from patient medical charts were exported to STATA V.17 for analysis. The log-rank test was used to determine the survival difference between subgroups of participants.
During follow-up, 33.8% of patients experienced at least one MACE. The median time to MACE was 1.5 years. Female sex (adjusted HR (AHR)=2.08; 95% CI 1.24 to 3.49), presence of chronic comorbidities (AHR=2.09; 95% CI 1.42 to 4.41) and higher Killip class (IV vs I: AHR=1.57; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.78) were independently associated with a shorter time to MACE. Patients aged ≤55 years had a lower risk of MACE compared with those aged ≥66 years (AHR=0.77; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.98).
Among patients with ACS discharged on secondary prevention medications, one-third experienced MACE within a median of 1.5 years. Older age, female sex, presence of comorbidities and higher Killip class were significant predictors of shorter time to MACE. These findings highlight the need for targeted postdischarge monitoring and secondary prevention strategies, particularly in resource-limited settings.
To examine trends in the frequency and costs of emergency hospital admissions in acute wards for mental health conditions among children and young people in England between 2012 and 2022 and to assess socioeconomic and geographic disparities in these costs.
Retrospective observational cohort study using routinely collected administrative data.
Secondary care acute wards; analysis includes all National Health Service (NHS) hospital admissions in England.
All emergency hospital admissions in acute wards for individuals aged 5–18 years with a primary or secondary mental health diagnosis recorded between 2012 and 2022. Exclusion criteria included admissions without a mental health diagnosis or outside the defined age range.
Primary outcomes were the annual number and total cost of mental health-related emergency admissions. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, diagnostic categories contributing to cost, and variation by socioeconomic deprivation and geographic location.
Between 2012 and 2022, the total cost of emergency admissions for mental health among children and young people rose markedly, driven by increases in both admission rates and length of stay. Children from the most socioeconomically deprived areas experienced higher admission rates and greater associated costs. Substantial regional variation in the financial burden was also observed. Eating disorders and self-harm were the main diagnostic categories contributing to the rise in costs. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, total admission numbers declined, but overall costs remained high due to a shift in diagnostic mix towards conditions associated with longer hospital stays and higher per-admission costs.
The increasing financial burden of paediatric mental health crises highlights the urgency of addressing upstream drivers of poor mental health. Policies should prioritise early intervention, reduce regional and socioeconomic disparities, and ensure equitable allocation of mental health resources. Further research should explore the effectiveness of community-based alternatives to hospital care.