INTRODUCTION: The present prevalence of schizophrenia in Greenland is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of schizophrenia in Nuuk and the rest of Greenland. METHODS: The study was designed as an observational, cross-sectional study based on statistical extractions and review of medical records for psychiatric patients in Greenland, aiming to determine the prevalence of schizophrenia. RESULTS: The prevalence of schizophrenia was estimated to 1.0% in Nuuk and 0.7% in the rest of Greenland. More males than females were affected (male/female ratio 2.5). Poor socio-economic conditions were revealed for the majority of patients. Cardiovascular risk factors were monitored suboptimally. CONCLUSIONS: An increased focus on socio-psychological rehabilitation and monitoring and control of cardiovascular risk factors is warranted. FUNDING: The study was funded by a grant from The Greenlandic Research Council (Sundhedspuljen). TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant. Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
INTRODUCTION: The present prevalence of schizophrenia in Greenland is unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of schizophrenia in Nuuk and the rest of Greenland. METHODS: The study was designed as an observational, cross-sectional study based on statistical extractions and review of medical records for psychiatric patients in Greenland, aiming to determine the prevalence of schizophrenia. RESULTS: The prevalence of schizophrenia was estimated to 1.0% in Nuuk and 0.7% in the rest of Greenland. More males than females were affected (male/female ratio 2.5). Poor socio-economic conditions were revealed for the majority of patients. Cardiovascular risk factors were monitored suboptimally. CONCLUSIONS: An increased focus on socio-psychological rehabilitation and monitoring and control of cardiovascular risk factors is warranted. FUNDING: The study was funded by a grant from The Greenlandic Research Council (Sundhedspuljen). TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant. Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.