Current Estimates of the Incidence and Prevalence of Schizophrenia in the U.S.

Background: Epidemiological estimates of schizophrenia vary considerably. The aim of this study was to assess current national incidence and prevalence rates of schizophrenia in the U.S.
Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized the MORE2 Registry® of commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Managed Medicaid claims, and also the 100% Medicare Fee-for-Service claims databases during 2022. Incidence and prevalence rates were developed by first calculating a numerator statement: patients with ≥ 1 inpatient or ≥ 2 outpatient claims with an ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for schizophrenia, schizotypal, or schizoaffective disorder; incidence patients required an absence of schizophrenia in the prior year. Denominator statements were then calculated as the total person time observable in 2022 for all patients appearing in the database for incidence, and number of persons alive and enrolled at the midpoint of the calendar year for prevalence. Finally, raw prevalence and incidence rates were projected to the national level via raking ratio estimation applying sampling weights at year x age x gender x region x payer type level.
Results: 653,666 total schizophrenia patients were identified, with 97,565 of these as incident cases. Projection analyses revealed the prevalence rate of schizophrenia in the U.S in 2022 was 0.45% (1.10% Medicare Fee-for-Service; 0.91% Medicaid, 1.10% Medicare Advantage, and 0.07% commercial), with an incidence rate of 0.08% (0.16% Medicare Fee-for-Service, 0.17% Medicaid, 0.17% Medicare Advantage, and 0.02% commercial).
Conclusion: This study utilized an expansive data source comprising different payer types to provide updated estimates of the incidence and prevalence rates of schizophrenia in the U.S.