Schizophrenia is associated with excess multiple physical-health comorbidities but low levels of recorded cardiovascular disease in primary care: cross-sectional study

Smith, D.J. , Langan, J. , McLean, G., Guthrie, B. and Mercer, S.W. (2013) Schizophrenia is associated with excess multiple physical-health comorbidities but low levels of recorded cardiovascular disease in primary care: cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 3(4), e002808. (doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002808)

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Abstract

<b>Objective</b> To assess the nature and extent of physical-health comorbidities in people with schizophrenia and related psychoses compared with controls. <p></p> <b>Design </b>Cross-sectional study. <p></p> <b>Setting </b>314 primary care practices in Scotland. <p></p> <b>Participants </b>9677 people with a primary care record of schizophrenia or a related psychosis and 1 414 701 controls. Main outcome measures Primary care records of 32 common chronic physical-health conditions and combinations of one, two and three or more physical-health comorbidities adjusted for age, gender and deprivation status. <p></p> <b>Results</b> Compared with controls, people with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to have one physical-health comorbidity (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.27), two physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.44) and three or more physical-health comorbidities (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.27). Rates were highest for viral hepatitis (OR 3.98, 95% CI 2.81 to 5.64), constipation (OR 3.24, 95% CI 3.00 to 4.49) and Parkinson's disease (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.42 to 3.88) but people with schizophrenia had lower recorded rates of cardiovascular disease, including atrial fibrillation (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.73), hypertension (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.76), coronary heart disease (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.71) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.97).<p></p> <b>Conclusions </b>People with schizophrenia have a wide range of comorbid and multiple physical-health conditions but are less likely than people without schizophrenia to have a primary care record of cardiovascular disease. This suggests a systematic under-recognition and undertreatment of cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia, which might contribute to substantial premature mortality observed within this patient group. <p></p>

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Smith, Professor Daniel and Mercer, Professor Stewart and Langan-Martin, Dr Julie and McLean, Dr Gary
Authors: Smith, D.J., Langan, J., McLean, G., Guthrie, B., and Mercer, S.W.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
Journal Name:BMJ Open
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:2044-6055
Published Online:17 April 2013
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2013 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMJ Open 3(4):e002808
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
477971Living Well with Multiple MorbidityStewart MercerScottish Executive Health Department (SEHHD-CSO)ARPG/07/01IHW - GENERAL PRACTICE & PRIMARY CARE