Mortality among psychiatric patients in Taiwan--results from a universal National Health Insurance programme

This study investigated 6-year follow-up mortality rates and cause of death for persons younger than 45 years old with a history of hospitalisation for major psychiatric disorders after the introduction of the National Health Insurance (NHI). Linkage data combining death certificates with Taiwan NHI research claims data were used. The study cohort was comprised all patients under the age of 45 years, who had been hospitalised for major psychiatric disorders in 1998. Patients aged <45 years undergoing an appendectomy were selected as a control group. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to compute the adjusted 6-year hazard ratios. For patients with schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder, the adjusted risks of dying during the follow-up period were significantly 4.614, 3.707 and 3.866, respectively, times higher than that for appendectomy patients. The adjusted hazard ratios of non-natural dying during the follow-up period were significantly 16.316, 14.626 and 8.481 times for female patients with schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder, respectively, as high as for female appendectomy patients. The continuing excess mortality among psychiatric patients, from both natural and unnatural causes, still remains even after implementation of a NHI.