Socioeconomic Position and Somatic Comorbidity in Mental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Mental disorders are linked to increased risk of somatic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
• Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with both mental disorders and NCDs, but its role in their co-occurrence is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively examine how associations between mental disorders and somatic NCDs vary by socioeconomic position (SEP).

Main Methods:

• Utilized Norwegian nationwide registry data (N=3,589,719) from 2008-2020.
• Assessed four mental disorder types and four somatic NCD categories.
• Employed Cox regression models analyzing hazard ratios for NCDs based on mental disorder status, adjusting for SEP indicators (education, income).

Main Results:

• All mental disorders correlated with increased somatic NCD risk, most pronounced for COPD and least for cancer.
• Risk escalated with disorder severity; psychotic and bipolar disorders showed the strongest associations.
• Young adults with psychosis exhibited a 4-5 fold higher risk for diabetes and COPD; low SEP moderately attenuated the co-occurrence of mental disorders and NCDs.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with mental disorders face significantly higher risks of somatic NCDs.
• Young adults with psychosis represent a particularly vulnerable group requiring targeted interventions.
• Low SEP exacerbates the NCD burden in individuals with mental disorders, highlighting the need for integrated mental and physical healthcare.