OBJECTIVE: Morbidity and mortality from general medical conditions are elevated among patients with schizophrenia compared with the general U.S. population. More than 50% of patients with schizophrenia have one or more comorbid psychiatric or general medical conditions. This study determined types of comorbid disorders and their prevalence among hospitalized patients with and without schizophrenia. METHODS: Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, a nationally representative sample, were analyzed for 1979-2003 (N=5,733,781 discharges). For discharges of patients aged 15 to 64 with at least one comorbid condition, the conditions of those with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia (N=26,279) were compared with those with other primary diagnoses (N=1,936,876). Proportional morbidity ratios (PMRs) were calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of discharges listing schizophrenia, particularly schizoaffective disorder, increased significantly over time among both males and females. The proportion was higher among males, blacks, and discharges in the Northeast. Discharge records with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia showed higher proportions of all comorbid psychiatric conditions examined and of some general medical conditions, including acquired hypothyroidism (PMR=2.9), contact dermatitis and other eczema (PMR=2.9), obesity (PMR=2.0), epilepsy (PMR=2.0), viral hepatitis (PMR=1.4), diabetes type II (PMR=1.2), essential hypertension (PMR=1.2), and various chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (PMR range 1.2-1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the risks of comorbid psychiatric and general medical conditions is critical both for clinicians and for patients with schizophrenia. Closer attention to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of comorbid conditions may decrease associated morbidity and mortality and improve prognosis among patients with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE: Morbidity and mortality from general medical conditions are elevated among patients with schizophrenia compared with the general U.S. population. More than 50% of patients with schizophrenia have one or more comorbid psychiatric or general medical conditions. This study determined types of comorbid disorders and their prevalence among hospitalized patients with and without schizophrenia. METHODS: Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, a nationally representative sample, were analyzed for 1979-2003 (N=5,733,781 discharges). For discharges of patients aged 15 to 64 with at least one comorbid condition, the conditions of those with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia (N=26,279) were compared with those with other primary diagnoses (N=1,936,876). Proportional morbidity ratios (PMRs) were calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of discharges listing schizophrenia, particularly schizoaffective disorder, increased significantly over time among both males and females. The proportion was higher among males, blacks, and discharges in the Northeast. Discharge records with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia showed higher proportions of all comorbid psychiatric conditions examined and of some general medical conditions, including acquired hypothyroidism (PMR=2.9), contact dermatitis and other eczema (PMR=2.9), obesity (PMR=2.0), epilepsy (PMR=2.0), viral hepatitis (PMR=1.4), diabetes type II (PMR=1.2), essential hypertension (PMR=1.2), and various chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (PMR range 1.2-1.5). CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the risks of comorbid psychiatric and general medical conditions is critical both for clinicians and for patients with schizophrenia. Closer attention to prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of comorbid conditions may decrease associated morbidity and mortality and improve prognosis among patients with schizophrenia.
Authors: James Walkup; Ayse Akincigil; Donald R Hoover; Michele J Siegel; Shahla Amin; Stephen Crystal Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2011 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Kristin R Baughman; Natalie Bonfine; Sara E Dugan; Richard Adams; Mary Gallagher; R Scott Olds; Elizabeth Piatt; Christian Ritter Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2015-11-26
Authors: A Carlo Altamura; Marta Serati; Alessandra Albano; Riccardo A Paoli; Ira D Glick; Bernardo Dell'Osso Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2011-02-18 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: Amber L Bahorik; Derek D Satre; Andrea H Kline-Simon; Constance M Weisner; Cynthia I Campbell Journal: J Psychosom Res Date: 2017-07-08 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Ellen M Janssen; Emma E McGinty; Susan T Azrin; Denise Juliano-Bult; Gail L Daumit Journal: Gen Hosp Psychiatry Date: 2015-03-14 Impact factor: 3.238
Authors: Hugh C Hendrie; Wanzhu Tu; Rebeka Tabbey; Christianna E Purnell; Roberta J Ambuehl; Christopher M Callahan Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2013-04-06 Impact factor: 4.105