Assessment of Mortality Rate in 10 Years and the Associated Risk Factors in Schizophrenia

The aim of the study was to explore the mortality rate and the associated risks factors in patients with schizophrenia during a10- year follow up period.

We searched the records of patients with schizophrenia receiving treatment as outpatients and/or inpatients in the psychiatric clinic of a university hospital between 2004 and 2008 and determine the survival of these patients by the end of 2018. The results were compared with the all cause mortality rate in the general population during the same period. Also, the risk factors affecting the mortality rate among the patients were investigated.

Out of a total of 626 registered patients 506 were included in the study. The mortality rate within 10 years was found to be 10.6%, with a mean age of 53.1 years at the time of death. The overall expected life expectancy was 73.4 years; varying between 66.6 years among the males and 77.6 years among the females; and 64.7 and 76.5 years among smokers and non-smokers, respectively. The overall standardized mortality rate (SMR) was 3.7, being 3.9 among the males and 3.3 among the females. The risk factors that were associated with the death were old age, male gender, smoking, not working, and early age of disease onset.

Smoking is a significant risk factor for mortality. Giving priority to programs for stopping smoking, and supporting rehabilitation services that enables patients to get involved in could help reducing the mortality risk.