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[Risk of cardiovascular mortality of hospitalized psychiatric patients]
1Institut f. Med. Informationsverarbeitung, Statistik u. Biomathematik, München.
Insights
Pathological ECG significantly increases cardiovascular mortality risk in psychiatric patients. Age, male sex, hypertension, and high cholesterol also elevate risk, independent of psychiatric condition or medication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Long-term study of 783 psychiatric patients (40-70 years old) hospitalized for extended periods.
- Focus on cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors within this population.
Purpose:
- To assess cardiovascular mortality risk over 10 years.
- To identify predictors of cardiovascular mortality in psychiatric patients using a multiple logistic model with 14 parameters.
Summary:
- Pathological electrocardiogram (ECG) was the strongest predictor, indicating a sevenfold increased risk.
- Male sex (2.5x risk), hypertension, and elevated serum cholesterol (nearly double risk) were significant factors.
- No correlation found between cardiovascular mortality and the type of psychiatric illness or psychopharmacotherapy.
Impact:
- Highlights the critical role of ECG abnormalities in predicting cardiovascular mortality in psychiatric patients.
- Identifies key modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors (hypertension, cholesterol, age, sex) for targeted interventions.
- Informs clinical practice regarding cardiovascular risk assessment and management in long-term psychiatric care.
Abstract:
In a long-term study involving 783 psychic patients (361 men and 422 women) ranging in age between 40 and 70 years and hospitalised for extended periods of time, who had been examined for the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, the cardiovascular mortality was registered for a period of 10 years. Using a multiple logistic model, an attempt was made at assessing the mortality risk in dependence on 14 parameters. The most conclusive predictor proved to be the pathological ECG which was seen to reflect seven times a higher risk. In addition to age and sex - the cardiovascular mortality of men was twice and a half that of women - hypertension and increased serum cholesterol levels among the known risk factors revealed a significant influence with little less than a doubling of the risk. On the other hand, a correlation to cardiovascular mortality was neither established for the kind of psychic disease nor for the kind of psychopharmacotherapy.