Morbidity and mortality in tardive dyskinesia: associations in chronic schizophrenia.

A population of 101 chronic schizophrenic inpatients were assessed for the presence or absence of tardive dyskinesia, and followed up 32 months later. At follow up, the mortality rates in 44 patients with and 57 patients without involuntary movements were 16% vs. 9% respectively; this difference widened when only the more prominent involuntary movements were considered. Of those surviving, patients with tardive dyskinesia were much more likely to contract an attack of respiratory tract infection, and to do so on multiple occasions, and tended to suffer from more cardiovascular disorders. They appeared more likely to show smoking-related pathology. Chronic schizophrenic patients with tardive dyskinesia constitute a more biologically disadvantaged group, suggesting a broader disease concept of the syndrome.