Abstract
BackgroundInformation about mortality patterns in different psychiatric populations is scanty, yet it is vital for designing successful preventive mental health strategies. In this study, we aimed to assess mortality rates and patterns for the patients admitted to Ain Shams University Institute of Psychiatry (ASUIP) with different psychiatric diagnoses from1990 to 2013. All medical records and related registration files were reviewed and investigated for death cases and their possible causes in a retrospective record linkage study. Data were recorded, tabulated, and coded to be used in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 17.ResultsThe study identified 57 death cases in 23-years duration with a mortality rate of 3/1000. Mortality rates were more in younger patients and females. Medical comorbidity was reported in 34.8% of them. The most common known causes for death in the current sample were cardiac causes 15.2%, followed by cerebrovascular causes that were 10.9%. However, sudden or unknown causes were the most frequent diagnosis in the sample.ConclusionsThe institute mortality rates were lower than those of the general population during this period. The most common known death causes were cardiovascular problems, which mandates close monitoring of high-risk psychiatric patients with co-morbid cardiac problems. Unknown morality causes represented an unresolved challenge for the current registration system and the quality of care given to patients with serious mental illness.
Highlights
Information about mortality patterns in different psychiatric populations is scanty, yet it is vital for designing successful preventive mental health strategies
Sixty percent of patients with serious mental illness (SMI) mortalities are due to physical illnesses that are prevalent in the general population
Fifty-seven patients died during this period, 46 of them had complete files, and
Summary
Information about mortality patterns in different psychiatric populations is scanty, yet it is vital for designing successful preventive mental health strategies. Patients suffering from common mental disorders, especially persons with psychotic disorders, major depressive disorders, and substance use disorders, are at high risk of premature death [1, 2]. This risk is not similar for all mental health problems, and the underlying causes of death may vary [1, 2]. Mortality can be as high as two Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt or three times that in the general population in patients of some serious mental disorders (SMD) [3, 4]. The fact that the access to high-quality health care services is difficult (2021) 28:80 for those population negatively impacted their medical outcome [8, 9]
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