Abstract
BackgroundMental symptoms are prevalent among populations, but their associations with premature mortality are inadequately understood. We examined whether mental symptoms contribute to cause-specific mortality among midlife employees, while considering key covariates.MethodsBaseline mail survey data from 2000–02 included employees, aged 40–60, of the City of Helsinki, Finland (n = 8960, 80 % women, response rate 67 %). Mental symptoms were measured by the General Health Questionnaire 12-item version (GHQ-12) and the Short Form 36 mental component summary (MCS). Covariates included sex, marital status, social support, health behaviours, occupational social class and limiting long-standing illness. Causes of death by the end of 2013 were obtained from Statistics Finland (n = 242) and linked individually to survey data pending consent (n = 6605). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were calculated using Cox regression analysis.ResultsFor all-cause mortality, only MCS showed a weak association before adjustments. For natural mortality, no associations were found. For unnatural mortality (n = 21), there was a sex adjusted association with GHQ (HR = 1.96, 95 % CI = 1.45–2.64) and MCS (2.30, 95 % CI = 1.72–3.08). Among unnatural causes of death suicidal mortality (n = 11) was associated with both GHQ (2.20, 95 % CI = 1.47–3.29) and MCS (2.68, 95 % CI = 1.80–3.99). Of the covariates limiting long-standing illness modestly attenuated the associations.ConclusionsTwo established measures of mental symptoms, i.e. GHQ-12 and SF-36 MCS, were both associated with subsequent unnatural, i.e. accidental and violent, as well as suicidal mortality. No associations were found for natural mortality due to diseases. These findings need to be corroborated in further populations. Supporting mental health through workplace measures may help counteract subsequent suicidal and other unnatural mortality among midlife employees.
Highlights
Mental symptoms are prevalent among populations, but their associations with premature mortality are inadequately understood
Quantitative estimates for mental symptoms are provided by established measures like the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) [9] and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) mental component summary (MCS) [10]
GHQ was associated with unnatural mortality in the sex-adjusted model 1 (HR 1.96, 95 % Confidence interval (CI) 1.45–2.64) (Table 2)
Summary
Mental symptoms are prevalent among populations, but their associations with premature mortality are inadequately understood. It is estimated that people with mental disorders may lose 10 years of potential life, and that up to 14 % of deaths worldwide, i.e. each year eight million deaths, involve people with mental disorders [3, 4]. Such excess mortality risk concerns those with severe and diagnosed mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and psychoses [3]. Most deaths are due to natural mortality from chronic diseases, such as Evidence on the associations between mental health and mortality comes primarily from studies examining diagnosed mental disorders among patients. Quantitative estimates for mental symptoms are provided by established measures like the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) [9] and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) mental component summary (MCS) [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
