Excess Mortality in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Author Information
Author(s): Thomas Munk Laursen, Trine Gasse Munk-Olsen, Christiane Gasse
Primary Institution: National Centre for Register-Based Research, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
Hypothesis
This study investigates the impact of 19 severe chronic diseases on excess mortality due to natural causes in individuals with psychotic disorders compared to the general population.
Conclusion
Chronic somatic diseases accounted for half of the excess mortality in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Supporting Evidence
- Cohort members with psychotic disorders had higher incidence rates of hospital contacts for almost all of the 19 disorders than the general population.
- The mortality rate ratio (MRR) of natural death was 7.10 for men with schizophrenia before adjustment for somatic disorders.
- Chronic somatic diseases accounted for half of the excess mortality in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Takeaway
People with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder often have serious health problems that can lead to early death, and many of these health issues are not being treated properly.
Methodology
A population-based cohort study using Danish register data to analyze hospital contacts and mortality rates.
Potential Biases
Potential under-detection or under-treatment of somatic disorders in psychotic patients.
Limitations
The study only includes younger persons under the age of 52 and may not capture all cases of somatic disorders due to under-detection.
Participant Demographics
Cohort members included 2,450,812 persons aged 15 to 52 years old, with 16,079 having schizophrenia and 6,215 having bipolar disorder.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 6.45, 7.81 for men with schizophrenia
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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