SMI and CVD

Q: Individuals having schizophrenia are twice as likely to die from Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD).

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) usually have a lower lifespan of 15 to 25 years. And the most common cause is CVD. In this regard, schizophrenia has the worst prognosis. People with schizophrenia are twice as likely to die from CVD. The various reasons are drug-induced obesity leading to diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, increased tendency towards smoking, poor nutrition, drug-induced dyslipidemia, and relatively less recognized QTc prolongation.

#psychiatry

#cardivascular

References:

1. Laursen TM, Nordentoft M, Mortensen PB. Excess early mortality in schizophrenia. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2014; 10:425.

2. Henderson DC, Nguyen DD, Copeland PM, et al. Clozapine, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular risks and mortality: results of a 10-year naturalistic study. J Clin Psychiatry 2005; 66:1116.

3. Brown S, Inskip H, Barraclough B. Causes of the excess mortality of schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2000; 177:212.