COVID 19-Related Mortality Risk in Population with Mental Disorders in the Basque Country

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global challenge. High mortality rates have been reported in some risk groups, including patients with pre-existing mental disorders. This study aimed to analyse the COVID-19 mortality risk and hospital admissions in patients with psychiatric disorders.Methods: We used retrospectively electronic health records (EHR) to identify people infected due to COVID-19 between the 14th of March 2020 to the 14th of March 2021) in the three territories of the Basque Country. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models and multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to study the role of factors associated with mortality or with hospital admission, including the Basque Country territory-level random effect.Outcomes: The COVID-19 mortality rate was increased in patients with psychotic disorders (OR unadjusted: 8∙10, 95%CI [6∙53, 10∙05], Interpretation: Patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder presented an increased hospitalization and COVID-19 mortality rate.Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: Dr Catalan reports personal fees from Janssen-Cilag and grants from the Carlos III Health Institute outside the submitted work. Dr Salazar de Pablo reports grants from Fundación Alicia Koplowitz and personal fees from Janssen-Cilag outside the submitted work. Professor Fusar-Poli reports research fees from Lundbeck and honoraria from Lundbeck, Angelini, Menarini, and Boehringer Ingelheim outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported. Professor González-Torres reports grants from the Carlos III Health Institute outside the submitted work. Dr Gonzalez-Pinto has received grants and served as consultant, advisor or CME speaker for the following entities: Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Alter, Angelini, Exeltis, Novartis, Takeda, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CIBERSAM), the Ministry of Science (Carlos III Institute), the Basque Government, and the European Framework Program of Research. Dr Segarra reports personal fees from Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Angelini, and grants from the Carlos III Health Institute and the Basque Government outside the submitted work. All other authors have nothing to declare. Ethical Approval: The Basque Country Ethics Committee approved the study.