LAUSR

Key Points Question Are long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) associated with a lower risk of disease relapse, health care use, and adverse events compared with oral antipsychotics among people in Hong Kong with schizophrenia? Findings In this 16-year, population-based, self-controlled case series study of 70 396 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 23 719 were prescribed LAIAs and oral antipsychotics. There were 48% fewer psychiatric hospitalizations, 47% fewer hospitalizations for schizophrenia, 44% fewer suicide attempts, and 37% fewer all-cause hospitalizations during full treatment periods with LAIAs alone, without an increased risk of adverse events; this association was also observed when excluding the first 90 days of treatment. Meaning This study suggests that clinicians should more broadly consider the long-term use of LAIAs for people with schizophrenia.